Scarlet Fever: How to Protect Your Child From it?
By Mayuri, Gaea News NetworkTuesday, August 17, 2010
Scarlet fever is a contagious disease caused by a group A streptococcus bacteria. The bacteria can affect the skin causing a scarlet-colored rash. It mostly affects the children and can cause acute fever.
Symptoms
Scarlet fever has an incubation period of 1 to 4 days. The main symptoms of this fever is the appearance of rashes around neck, arms and chest. Other symptoms include:
Abdominal Pain
Chills
Fever
Headache
Loss of Appetite
Nausea
Rashes like a sunburn
Sore Throat
Strawberry colored tongue
Swollen neck glands
Tonsils
Vomiting
How it Spread
Scarlet fever is a bacterial disease and it can attack a person when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The bacteria can also spread through contaminated food or drinking glass.
Prevention & Treatment
Though there is no such way to avoid this infection but you can protect your child from the disease by maintaining a hygienic and healthy lifestyle.
If your child has a rash, consult the doctor immediately. Antibiotics helps to kill the bacteria and your child may recover within four days. Remember that if left untreated, Scarlet Fever can cause acute Rheumatic fever.
