The parents' guide to scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is a bacterial infection that mainly affects children under 10. It’s also known as scarlatina.

It was once a common cause of childhood death, but these days, it’s rarely serious and can be treated with antibiotics.

The early signs of scarlet fever are similar to many other childhood viruses and infections, and include:
 

• Sore throat
• Headache
• High temperature
• Swollen glands in the neck
• Vomiting

As the illness progresses, children usually develop a distinctive rash.

The scarlet fever rash usually starts on the chest or tummy, then spreads to other areas. It’s red and blotchy, and the patches may join up. The rash feels like sandpaper if you rub your hand across it, and may be particularly livid in skin folds like the elbows and armpits. It turns white if you press a glass against it.

The rash tends not to spread to the face, but your child may have bright red cheeks that look like they’re sunburnt.

The other trademark symptom of scarlet fever is a white coating that forms on the tongue and then peels away, leaving the tongue red and swollen. This is known as ‘strawberry tongue’.

Scarlet fever spreads very easily. It’s a droplet infection, meaning it’s spread in the airborne droplets from coughs and sneezes.

This explains why it’s particularly common in primary school children, who spend most of their day in close contact with each other.

‘It’s important that we all remain vigilant,’ says Gary.

Scarlet fever can also be contracted from contact with contaminated bedding, towels and clothes, and from sharing bathwater with someone who’s infected.

If you think your child has symptoms of scarlet fever, see your GP as soon as possible. They’ll normally be able to make a diagnosis based on the appearance of the rash.

Usually, your child will be prescribed a five- to 10-day course of antibiotics, which reduce the length of time that they’re contagious for, speed up recovery, and help to prevent potentially serious complications like pneumonia and liver failure.

Most people will feel better within a few days, although the skin may continue to peel for several weeks.

If your child has been treated for scarlet fever and it hasn’t improved, or has got worse, after a week, you should take them back to the GP.

About one in 40 cases of scarlet fever needs treatment in hospital.

Once your child has had scarlet fever, it’s unlikely they’ll get it again.

Scarlet fever is contagious before the symptoms develop, which makes it difficult to prevent the spread.

It remains contagious until 24 hours after starting antibiotics, or up to three weeks if your child doesn’t have antibiotics.

If you suspect your child has scarlet fever, you should take them out of school immediately and keep them off for at least 24 hours after they’ve started taking antibiotics.

If they are feeling unwell or have a temperature, you’ll probably need to keep them home for longer than that.

Encourage your child to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, and throw the used tissue away immediately. They should wash their hands with soap and water regularly, and always after using a tissue.

Avoid sharing cutlery, cups and glasses, bed linen, towels, toys, clothes, bathwater and toys while your child is contagious.