Many people better know scarlatina as scarlet fever. This is an illness that is usually the result of infection with certain strains of Strep or Streptococcus bacteria. Most often affecting children up to their early teen years, the condition has very recognizable symptoms. It used to be the case that this illness could result in terrible complications and cause death, but now, in most cases when it is recognized early, it can be easily treated with antibiotics.
There are number of prominent symptoms of scarlet fever that make this illness fairly easy to distinguish from strep throat. First, children develop a rash that is bright red and has a rough feel to it. It is often described as similar in appearance to a sunburn, and the skin may eventually peel, but the rash may not feel flat, and it is likely to spread over much of the body. The cheeks can make it look like the child is blushing or has just exerted himself, but the area around the lips and mouth can look faded or white. Another hallmark of this illness is something called Pastia’s lines or strawberry red lines that are present in skin folds, such as under the arms.
The rash and Pastia’s lines typically develop after some other scarlatina symptoms first appear. Often, the earliest disease symptoms are an extremely sore throat and high fever that exceeds 101°F (38.33°C). Many children also have swollen glands, and there may be other symptoms too, like stomach pain or nausea, throbbing head, dizziness, and a bright red tongue.
Early indications often suggest strep throat, and the appearance of a rash usually means scarlet fever. Since the fever typically stays high, parents are usually urged to bring their children to a healthcare professional to confirm the diagnosis and get treatment. Diagnosis may be confirmed by appearance only if all prominent rash signs are present, but many medical professionals also take a throat culture or perform a rapid strep test to make certain that the bacteria that causes scarlatina is in the throat. Once the disease is diagnosed, the standard treatment is antibiotics.
Some other things can be done at home to give comfort for the person recovering from this illness. Fever-lowering medications, except for aspirin for children, may be of use and may also have a pain relieving effect on the throat. Drinking lots of liquids can help and hot liquids or cold or frozen ones might partially relieve throat discomfort. Children, or the rare adult that gets this illness, should also get plenty of rest until fever is gone.
While, in present day, it is easy to treat scarlet fever, it shouldn’t be considered a benign illness. It requires antibiotic treatment because it can turn into other, more serious conditions like rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever can begin to affect organs in the body, even the heart, and may cause permanent damage if ignored. People who suspect scarlatina or strep throat should get prompt medical care.
