Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsScarlet Fever vs. Strep ThroatSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Scarlet Fever vs. Strep Throat
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Unlike strep throat, people with scarlet fever develop a rash and a red tongue. Scarlet fever is most likely to affect children between ages 5 and 15 and rarely, if ever, sickens adults. Although once a dangerous disease of childhood, scarlet fever is now highly treatable and uncommon in most of the world.
This article discusses scarlet fever and its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Strep throat does not always develop into scarlet fever. Although it looks worse than strep throat, scarlet fever is no more serious as long as it is treated.
Strep Throat vs. Sore Throat: Which Is It?
Scarlet Fever Symptoms
Like strep throat, scarlet fever begins with the following symptoms:
A day or two after these symptoms begin, children with scarlet fever also develop a reddish, sandpapery rash.The rash persists for some time after the initialsymptoms of scarlet feverrespond to treatment. Sometimes the skin on certain areas of the body will peel for a few weeks.
Although not common, scarlet fever can develop after a strep infection of the skin such asimpetigo. Rather than beginning as a throat infection, this type of scarlet fever would begin with signs of infection around a burn or wound.
What Causes Scarlet Fever?
Group A strep bacteria are responsible for many types of infections, including strep throat and certain skin infections. The bacteria that belong to the strain of group A strep that causes scarlet fever produce a toxin that’s responsible for the red rash and “strawberry tongue” which are unique characteristics of the illness.
You can contract the Group A strep bacteria through close contact with someone who has it. The bacteria can also travel via droplets of infected fluid that become airborne when an infected person coughs or sneezes.Touching something that the bacteria have landed on and then touching your mouth, eyes, or nose can cause you to become infected.
The disease spreads more in crowded conditions.Hand washingand covering coughs and sneezes can help prevent spread. A child is still infectious until after two days of antibiotics.
What to Know About Scarlet Fever
How Scarlet Fever Is Diagnosed
Scarlet fever is diagnosed in the same way as strep throat. Athroat swabis taken and either a rapid strep test is performed or the sample is cultured to see if thestreptococcusbacteria is present.The rapid test can show a positive result within five to 10 minutes, but the results from a culture may take up to two days. Both tests will often be performed because the rapid tests can be unreliable.
There are two important aspects of treating scarlet fever: killing the bacteria with a full course of antibiotics and easing symptoms.
A full course of antibiotic treatment is vital. The antibiotics used most often are penicillin and amoxicillin. For people who are allergic to penicillin, there are plenty of safe alternatives.
For dealing with the uncomfortable and sometimes painful symptoms of scarlet fever, there are a variety of home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) remedies. These include simple approaches to easing a sore throat such as eating cold foods, drinking warm liquids, and using a humidifier to keep the air moist. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can bring down fever and ease general body aches and pains.
Treating Scarlet Fever
How to Prevent Scarlet Fever
Scarlet fever and the bacteria that causes it are contagious, and children who have the condition should stay home from school until 48 hours after beginning antibiotic treatment. Untreated scarlet fever can be spread for a few weeks after symptoms begin.
Raw, unpasteurized milk can contain dangerous bacteria, including group A strep. Avoid drinking raw milk or eating unpasteurized dairy products.
Summary
People with scarlet fever have the same symptoms as people with strep throat, but they also develop a reddish, sandpapery rash and a bright red tongue.
1 SourceVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scarlet fever.Additional ReadingDavies MR, Holden MT, Coupland P, et al.Emergence of scarlet feverStreptococcus pyogenes emm12 clones in Hong Kong is associated with toxin acquisition and multidrug resistance.Nat Genet. 2015;47(1):84-7. doi:10.1038/ng.3147Guy R, Williams C, Irvine N, et al.Increase in scarlet fever notifications in the United Kingdom, 2013/2014.Euro Surveill; 19(12): 20749. doi:10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.12.20749Lamagni T, Guy R, Chand M, et al.Resurgence of scarlet fever in England, 2014-16: a population-based surveillance study.Lancet Infect Dis. 2018;18(2):180-187. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(17)30693-X
1 Source
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scarlet fever.Additional ReadingDavies MR, Holden MT, Coupland P, et al.Emergence of scarlet feverStreptococcus pyogenes emm12 clones in Hong Kong is associated with toxin acquisition and multidrug resistance.Nat Genet. 2015;47(1):84-7. doi:10.1038/ng.3147Guy R, Williams C, Irvine N, et al.Increase in scarlet fever notifications in the United Kingdom, 2013/2014.Euro Surveill; 19(12): 20749. doi:10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.12.20749Lamagni T, Guy R, Chand M, et al.Resurgence of scarlet fever in England, 2014-16: a population-based surveillance study.Lancet Infect Dis. 2018;18(2):180-187. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(17)30693-X
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scarlet fever.
Davies MR, Holden MT, Coupland P, et al.Emergence of scarlet feverStreptococcus pyogenes emm12 clones in Hong Kong is associated with toxin acquisition and multidrug resistance.Nat Genet. 2015;47(1):84-7. doi:10.1038/ng.3147Guy R, Williams C, Irvine N, et al.Increase in scarlet fever notifications in the United Kingdom, 2013/2014.Euro Surveill; 19(12): 20749. doi:10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.12.20749Lamagni T, Guy R, Chand M, et al.Resurgence of scarlet fever in England, 2014-16: a population-based surveillance study.Lancet Infect Dis. 2018;18(2):180-187. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(17)30693-X
Davies MR, Holden MT, Coupland P, et al.Emergence of scarlet feverStreptococcus pyogenes emm12 clones in Hong Kong is associated with toxin acquisition and multidrug resistance.Nat Genet. 2015;47(1):84-7. doi:10.1038/ng.3147
Guy R, Williams C, Irvine N, et al.Increase in scarlet fever notifications in the United Kingdom, 2013/2014.Euro Surveill; 19(12): 20749. doi:10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.12.20749
Lamagni T, Guy R, Chand M, et al.Resurgence of scarlet fever in England, 2014-16: a population-based surveillance study.Lancet Infect Dis. 2018;18(2):180-187. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(17)30693-X
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