Scarlet fever facts for kids

Scarlet fever is an infectious disease caused by tiny living things called bacteria. Specifically, it's caused by a type of bacteria known as Streptococcus pyogenes. These bacteria release a special poison, called an exotoxin, which makes people sick.

Long ago, scarlet fever was a very serious illness and a major cause of death. Luckily, today it can be treated with antibiotics, which are medicines that fight bacteria. Sometimes, you might hear the term scarlatina, which is another name for scarlet fever, or sometimes used to describe a milder form of it.

What is Scarlet Fever?

Scarlet fever is a bacterial infection that often starts with a sore throat, also known as "strep throat." The bacteria that cause it are the same ones responsible for strep throat. Not everyone who gets strep throat will develop scarlet fever, but it's a possible complication.

How You Get It

The bacteria that cause scarlet fever spread through tiny drops of liquid when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You can get it by breathing in these drops or by touching surfaces where the drops have landed and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. It's most common in children aged 5 to 15 years old.

Signs and Symptoms

The most well-known sign of scarlet fever is a bright red rash that feels like sandpaper. This rash often starts on the neck and chest and then spreads over the body. Other common symptoms include:

• A very sore throat
• Fever
• Swollen glands in the neck
• A "strawberry tongue," which means your tongue looks red and bumpy, sometimes with a white coating.

The rash usually fades after about a week, and then the skin might peel, especially on the fingertips and toes.

Treatment and Prevention

If a doctor thinks you have scarlet fever, they will usually prescribe antibiotics. It's very important to take all the medicine exactly as prescribed, even if you start feeling better. This helps to kill all the bacteria and prevents more serious problems from developing.

Why Treatment is Important

Treating scarlet fever with antibiotics helps you get better faster and stops the infection from spreading to others. It also prevents serious complications that can happen if the bacteria are not fully cleared from your body. These complications are rare today because of antibiotics, but they used to be a big problem in the past.

Staying Healthy

To help prevent the spread of scarlet fever and other infections, it's a good idea to:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid sharing eating utensils, cups, and food.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

History of Scarlet Fever

In the past, before antibiotics were discovered, scarlet fever was a much more dangerous disease. It could lead to serious health issues and was a common cause of death, especially among children. Many families lost children to this illness.

Scientists and doctors worked hard to understand and fight scarlet fever. For example, in 1924, Gladys Henry Dick and George Frederick Dick developed an antitoxin and a vaccine. These were important steps forward, but they were later replaced by penicillin in the 1940s, which proved to be a very effective antibiotic treatment. Thanks to modern medicine, scarlet fever is now much easier to treat and is rarely life-threatening.

Images for kids

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  Characteristic strawberry tongue of scarlet fever

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  Red cheeks and pale area around the mouth in scarlet fever

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  Streptococcus pyogenes (pictured)

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  Bad Füssing, Germany: Memorial to the local innkeeper's three children, who all died during a local wave of scarlet fever in 1858-59

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  Otto Kalischer wrote a doctoral thesis on scarlet fever in 1891.

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  A 1930s American poster attempting to curb the spread of such diseases as scarlet fever by regulating milk supply

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  Gladys Henry Dick (pictured) and George Frederick Dick developed an antitoxin and vaccine for scarlet fever in 1924 which were later eclipsed by penicillin in the 1940s.

See also

In Spanish: Escarlatina para niños