Scarlet fever is an illness caused by the same bacteria that cause strep throat. A person with scarlet fever most commonly develops a sore throat and rash. Scarlet fever is usually seen in people under the age of 18. For unknown reasons, scarlet fever has become less common in recent years.
Scarlet fever is an illness caused by bacteria called group A streptococcus, the same bacteria that cause strep throat. Group A streptococcus (known as
Streptococcus pyogenes) produces a toxin that causes the
scarlet fever symptoms. Some people are sensitive to this toxin; others have developed immunity. This is why two people in the same household can have a strep infection, but only one may develop scarlet fever.
Understanding Group A Streptococcus
Group A streptococcus is most familiar to people because it is responsible for strep throat and scarlet fever. Group A streptococcus can also cause:
- Skin infections, such as impetigo (characterized by blisters that may itch)
- Erysipelas (hardened, painful skin lesions with raised borders)
- Cellulitis (inflammation of connective tissue of the skin).
Health experts estimate that more than 10 million mild infections (throat and skin), caused by group A streptococcus, occur every year.
Other more serious infections that group A streptococcus can cause include:
- Bacteremia (blood stream infections)
- Toxic shock syndrome (multi-organ infection)
- Necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease).
Occasionally, group A streptococcus can also cause pneumonia.
Scarlet Fever: Incubation Period
When a person is infected with the bacteria that cause scarlet fever, the bacteria begin to multiply inside the body. After one to four days, a person may begin to have
scarlet fever symptoms. The time between infection and the first scarlet fever symptoms is called the scarlet fever incubation period.
Symptoms of Scarlet Fever
The most common scarlet fever symptoms include:
Other, less common symptoms of scarlet fever include:
After the rash is gone, the skin on the tips of the fingers and toes often begins to peel.
In order to make a
scarlet fever diagnosis, the doctor will ask a number of questions and perform a physical exam, looking for scarlet fever signs. If the doctor suspects scarlet fever, he or she may recommend a throat culture to make a scarlet fever diagnosis. If the throat culture is positive for group A streptococcus, and the person has scarlet fever symptoms, a diagnosis of scarlet fever can be made.
Treatment for Scarlet Fever
Treatment for scarlet fever typically involves antibiotics that can kill the bacteria. Scarlet fever treatment also focuses on relieving the symptoms of scarlet fever.
Complications of Scarlet Fever
Because both scarlet fever and strep throat are caused by group A streptococcus bacteria, possible
scarlet fever complications are similar to those of strep throat. However, with the widespread use of antibiotics to treat scarlet fever and strep throat, these complications are not as common as they once were.
Specific scarlet fever complications that can occur include:
- Sinusitis (sinus infection)
- Otitis media (ear infection)
- Rheumatic fever (inflammatory disease that can affect the heart, joints, skin, and brain)
- Meningitis
- Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis
- Bacteremia (bloodstream infections)
- Cervical lymphadenitis (inflammation of lymph glands in the neck)
- Pneumonia
- Abscess (collection of pus in tissue).
Other Names for Scarlet Fever
In older medical literature, scarlet fever was also known as scarlatina.
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