Scarlet fever is a widespread and dreaded infectious disease. What is behind it and how you treat it, you will find out here.
Scarlet: What is scarlet fever anyway?
Scarlet fever is a bacterial infectious disease affecting mostly children. The bacteria are streptococci that contain toxic substances. They usually lead to sore throat and rash on the skin.
Anyone who has caught an infection from the streptococcus, while in principle immune to the pathogen in the future, but since there are many different pathogens, you can also multiple cases of scarlet fever .
Scarlet fever: transmission and outbreak of scarlet fever
- The danger of transmission with the bacteria is absolutely given. Many people carry the pathogen in themselves without being affected by the disease themselves. The bacteria are then usually spread by speaking or coughing in the air, so that a transmission can happen by inhaling the pathogens. Rarer, but quite possible, is a contagion over shared items such as cutlery.
- When infected with the bacteria, it usually takes up to three days forthe disease to break out. People who take antibiotics are no longer infectious 24 hours after taking them . Without treatment with antibiotics, however, the risk of infection is still possible 3 weeks later .
- Basically, anyone can get infected with the infection , but especially affected by the disease are children.
Scarlet fever: symptoms
- Scarlet fever does not come creeping like many diseases, but with full force. Fever, rash, sore throat, vomiting – the list of symptoms is long and unpleasant.
- The rash usually manifests itself within the first 48 hours after infection with the bacteria. These are small, pale spots that are later red. Virtually every part of the body can be affected, except for the hands and feet, but it is typical for spots on the inguinal region and on the head, neck, arms and legs. The stains go back after about a week .
- When the infection is around the mouth is usually very pale and the tongue is covered with a layer, it is also called a raspberry tongue . What an occupied tongue means, you will learn here.
Scarlet fever: treatment of scarlet fever
Anyone who has been infected with scarlet fever should consult a doctor immediately. This treats the disease with the antibiotic penicillin . The so-called penicillin V is administered as a tablet to prevent complications and to produce resistance to the streptococci.
Even if you are no longer infectious after taking Penicillin a day later, you take antibiotics for at least ten days .
Scarlet fever: effects of scarlet fever
With proper treatment, the scarlet fever disease runs without major complications. However, the disease can be accompanied, among other things, by the following symptoms :
- Otitis
- Rheumatic fever
- High fever
- stomach pain
In general, you should always have any abnormalities examined by your doctor and the administration of antibiotics in accordance with regulations.
Scarlet fever: precaution
- There is no reliable precaution to prevent the disease with scarlet fever. There is no vaccine against streptococci. Importantly, an infection is quickly recognized by symptoms such as fever, rash or vomiting to prevent complications and further infection.
- Especially in kindergartens and schools, the close contact quickly leads to a transmission by the children. It is therefore important to attach importance to thorough hygiene such as hand washing .