Last week (ending 18th March) we had a few children and staff who have been unwell and been given
diagnosis of Scarlet Fever. The NHS give
the following advice about this illness:
Symptoms of scarlet fever
The symptoms of scarlet fever usually
take two to five days to appear after infection. However, the incubation
period (the time between exposure to the infection and symptoms starting) can be as short
as one day or as long as seven days. The symptoms of scarlet fever include
a sore throat, headache, high temperature (38.3C/101F) or
above), flushed face and swollen tongue. The distinctive pink-red rash develops 12 to 48 hours later.
Rash
Red blotches are the first sign of the rash. These turn
into a fine pink-red rash that feels like sandpaper to touch and looks like sunburn. It may also be itchy. The rash usually starts on
the chest and stomach, but soon spreads to other parts of the body, such as the
ears, neck, elbows, inner thighs and groin. The rash doesn't usually spread to
the face. However, the cheeks become flushed and the area just around the
mouth stays quite pale. The rash will turn white if you press a glass on it.
The rash usually fades after about a week, but the outer layers of skin,
usually on the hands and feet, may peel for several weeks afterwards. In milder
cases, sometimes called scarlatina, the rash may be the only symptom.
Other
symptoms
Other symptoms may include swollen neck glands, loss of
appetite, nausea or vomiting, red lines in the folds of the body, such as
the armpit, which may last a couple of days after the rash has gone, a
white coating on the tongue, which peels a few days later leaving the tongue
red and swollen (this is known as strawberry tongue), a general feeling of
being unwell.
When
to seek medical advice
See your GP as soon as possible if you think you or your child
has scarlet fever. Although the illness usually clears up after about a
week, your GP will be able to confirm a diagnosis and recommend appropriate
treatment.