Scarlet Fever Rash

Preamble and Causes Scarlet fever is a bacterial illness that often characterized with a distinctive rash made up of tiny pinkish-red acne that may envelop the whole body, common among young children aged between 2 and ten years. The rash is referred to scarlet fever rash, earning the infection its name. The illness occurs as a result of an infection with exotoxin-producing group A beta-hemolyptic streptococci (GABHS) called streptococcus pyogenes. It is important to note that not all streptococci bacteria release this toxin and also not all children in the stated age bracket are may be infected with a strep infection as only children who sensitive to toxin may develop the scarlet rash.

Although pharyngeal streptococcal infections, commonly known as strep throat is majorly the cause of scarlet fever, in some cases, it is commonly caused by stretptococcal infections that may occur in other parts of the body like the skin. An approximated 10% of scarlet fever infections arise from people who develop streptococcal pharyngitis.

The fever is not as common today as it was a century ago when it was connected with some fatal contagions. It has gradually been stamped out by the introductions and improvement of antibiotics which, in their early usage in the healing of streptococcal infectivity, have vetoed many of the fever's cases as well as the long-term impediment of rheumatic fever.

Scarlet Fever Rash Mode of infection

Just like other Group A streptococcal infections that are contagious, scarlet fever is also communicable. The streptococcal bacteria can multiply from one individual to another by simple actions as breathing. When healthy humans breathe in airborne droplets from an infected person's coughing or sneezing, they risk being infected. Other modes of transmission that are common among children are the sharing of clothing where contaminated clothing when put on by a healthy kid, the infection is passed on. Parents are encouraged to discourage the sharing of clothing, towels or even bed linen.

Children can catch this fever at any time of the year. However, most infections are reported during winter and spring. The airborne respiratory droplet from infected individuals, usually children, or asymptomatic carriers (kids who don't show any signs of the infection but are carriers) is usually the key mode of infection of the streptococcal bacterium. Also, when a healthy person comes into direct contact with infected secretions may lead to the infection. Crowded places like schools or day-care centers have a higher infection risk.

Asymptomatic carriers

Research has pointed out that a substantial number (between 15% and 20%) are thought to be asymptotic as they are carriers of the toxin produced by the streptococcal bacteria but don't show any signs. To be infected by the fever, one has to be vulnerable to the toxin that the streptococcal bacterium produces. Cases of only one child in a family in a family of even four children developing the fever are common even though the other three may all have the streptococcal infection. Only kids vulnerable to the toxin develop the fever which generally has an incubation period of between one and four days.

Symptoms

The primary symptoms of the fever is usually a sore-throat related fever and swollen glands, headaches, loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, swollen and red "strawberry" tongue, pain in the abdomen, depression and body pains. Some of these signs may be hard for parents to detect especially in cases of very young children. Parents and caregivers should pay closest attention to such cases.

Fever Diagnosis

The primary sign of the fever is the appearance or the distinguishing scarlet fever rash which appears approximately 12hrs to 48 hrs after the fever. The appearances of a scarlet spots that give an appearance of a boiled lobster are often the early signs of the rash. The rash in most cases appears in the specific parts of the body; usually the ears, chest, the armpits as well as the groin. It later spreads to the rest of the body after 24 hours.

Scarlet fever is usually diagnosed from the suspected characteristic history as well as by physical examination. The most common and comprehensive on is usually the through a throat swab sample that is tested for the bacterial growth.

Treatment

There is absolutely no cause for alarm on the detection of the fever because it is treatable. Most parents tend to panic but a visit to a physician is all that is needed for a prescription of a course of antibiotics, which is the best remedy for scarlet fever. The most common antibiotics are normally penicillin or amoxillin; which need to be taken by the patient for ten days. A full dosage is mandatory to cushion against a recurrence of the fever. In some cases, doctors may deem it right to give an intramuscular injection.

Home Remedies

Some home remedies can be employed to help mitigate the intensity of the fever. Pain killers like paracetamol can be taken to relieve headaches, fever and throat pains. Also, patients are encouraged to drink plentiful of cool liquids. Oral antihistamines or calamine lotion can be applied on the infected areas to relieve the pain. Another very obvious but sometimes overlooked remedy is to ensure that the children have short clean fingernails.

Prevention of Scarlet Fever

Prevention is said to be better than cure and yes, the spread of streptococcus bacteria that causes scarlet fever can be prevented. One of the core preventive measures that can be employed is the isolation of the infected individual from the rest of the family, especially from those with a higher risk of acquiring the disease-usually infants and young kids of less than ten years. School going children should be kept away from school for atleast 24 hours after receiving an antibiotic treatment and when they show signs of healing.

Conclusion

It should be noted that the scarlet fever may result in much more serious complications and need to be handled with the seriousness it deserves. Some of the complications that the fever may lead to caused by streptococcus infection include; Rheumatic fever, Pneumonia, Osteomyelitis, Otitis media, Glomerulonephritis, Septicaemia. If a patient is left unattended to, this fever can become tragic and even lead to death. A timely visit to the physicians as soon as the signs related to this fever are spotted is recommended to avert the dangers.