Being Healthy, Staying Safe!
Health Advice
Scarlet fever
This is a notifiable disease: contact the CYPS Health and
Safety Team (92 24399) if any one at your establishment
is diagnosed.
Usually occurring after a throat or skin infection, scarlet fever
is the rash caused by the streptococcus bacteria. Scarlet fever
is also known as scarletina, although this term is sometimes used
to refer to a mild form of the disease.
It is quite rare in the UK because of the regular use of
antibiotics. It affects children mostly between four and
eight years, but people of any age can catch it, although it's
very rare in children under two.
Scarlet fever can be passed through bacteria in airborne
droplets from coughs and sneezes. In some cases it can follow
other infections and from wounds and burns.
Symptoms
Scarlet fever generally has a one-to-four day incubation period.
The disease often starts with a sore throat or a skin infection.
The characteristic symptom of scarlet fever is a fine pinkishred rash on the body that feels like sandpaper. It may start in
one place, but soon spread to many parts of the body, commonly
the ears, neck, chest, elbows, inner thighs and groin.
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Health Advice
Being Healthy, Staying Safe!
The rash does not normally spread to the face but the cheeks
become flushed and the area just around the mouth stays pale.
The rash will blanche (turn white) if you press a glass on it. The
overall impression is that of someone with a flushed, red face is
where scarlet fever gets its name.
Other symptoms may include:
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headache,
swollen neck glands,
loss of appetite,
nausea and/or vomiting,
abdominal pain,
pastia lines (broken blood vessels in the folds of the body
eg armpit, causing red streaks),
white coating on the tongue, which peels a few days later
leaving the tongue looking red and swollen (known as
strawberry tongue), and
a general feeling of being unwell.
The rash lasts for six days and then usually fades away. If
symptoms aren’t treated, the outer layers of the skin may peel
(particularly on the hands and feet) for up to six weeks after
the original rash has faded.
The rash is something to watch for in a child that has chicken
pox as this may indicate a secondary infection. If this is the
case, medical advice must be sought as the secondary infection
may prolong the first infection or make it more severe.
If a child has scarlet fever the parent/ carer should consult a
GP.
Exclusion
Children (if well enough) can return to school 24 hours after
commencing antibiotics.
Copyright CYPS H&S Team
Health Advice
Being Healthy, Staying Safe!
Any pregnant woman in contact with someone displaying any
rash must be advised to contact their GP or Midwife.
Further information:
NHS Choices
Health Protection Agency
HS/JB
Feb 08
Page revised July 09 (JB)
(Updated Aug 10)
(Updated Dec 10)
(Updated Feb 11)
Updated Aug 12
Copyright CYPS H&S Team
Health Advice