Scarlet Fever

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Scarlet Fever, infectious disease, caused by group A hemolytic streptococci, which also causes strep throat. The causative organism usually enters the body through the nose or mouth; it is transmitted from person to person by direct contact, that is, by sprays of droplets from the respiratory tract of an infected person, or by indirect contact through the use of utensils previously handled by an infected person. The disease most commonly affects children between the ages of two and ten.

The typical initial symptoms of the disease are headache, sore throat, chills, fever, and general malaise. From two to three days after the first appearance of symptoms, red spots may appear on the palate; bright red papilla emerge on the tongue, giving it an appearance commonly called strawberry tongue. A characteristic skin eruption appears on the chest and usually spreads over the entire body except the face. The rash fades on pressure. The fever, which frequently runs as high as 40° to 40.6° C (104° to 105° F), generally lasts only a few days but may extend to a week or longer. The rash usually fades in approximately a week, and at that time the skin begins to peel.

Scarlet fever may be complicated by an infection of the middle ear mastoids or sinuses, or even by pneumonia. See also Rheumatic Fever. Occasionally, inflammation of the kidneys (glomerular nephritis) may develop after scarlet fever. Since the introduction of penicillin, however, most instances of scarlet fever can be cured without the occurrence of permanent aftereffects.

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