Various diseases affect us throughout our lives, and this is a reality we cannot avoid. But on many occasions, due to lack of care or simply lack of information, we allow small complications to turn into serious illnesses that require more aggressive treatment, as is the case with scarlet fever.

Scarlet fever is a disease that arises precisely from a complication in the pharynx. But is it a disease that can be prevented? How can you avoid it? Let’s talk a bit more about scarlet fever, its main symptoms, treatments, and what complications it can bring.

What is Scarlet Fever?

Scarlet fever is a disease caused by the bacterium called streptococcus pyogenes. It is an acute infectious and contagious disease, and can be transmitted through secretions and droplets of saliva in the air.

The disease presents itself as a complication of other diseases caused by the same bacterium such as tonsillitis and pharyngitis, and even impetigo and erysipelas, although the development of the disease is rarer in the latter two cases.

It occurs as an infection caused by toxins produced by this bacterium, which end up affecting the person’s skin. Scarlet fever is much more common in children than adults, though adults are not entirely risk-free.

Symptoms of Scarlet Fever

The main characteristic of scarlet fever is the appearance of reddish skin rashes, also called cutaneous rash. These rashes usually appear on the neck and back of the infected person, but spread down the body as the disease progresses.

These small lesions appear in greater numbers in the skin folds, such as the armpits, for example. They can also reach the tongue, making it swollen and giving it a “strawberry-like” appearance. Apart from this, there are other symptoms that should not be ignored, such as:

  • Fever
  • Headaches
  • Abdominal pain
  • Sore throat
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Enlarged neck lymph nodes
  • Rough skin
  • Excessive thirst
  • Difficulty eating

Many of these symptoms are also part of infections caused by the diseases already mentioned here, but it is necessary to pay attention when they develop into scarlet fever.

How to Prevent Scarlet Fever?

Since we know that scarlet fever is a transmissible disease, there are some measures to be taken to prevent transmission from one person to another. Some of the main ways to prevent scarlet fever are:

  • Avoid crowds
  • Always wash your hands when coming home from outside or after contact with other people
  • Avoid sharing cutlery and glasses in places with many people

Although these are simple tips, they can save a person from many complications due to scarlet fever and other infectious diseases that often spread due to lack of attention from people.

Treatment for Scarlet Fever

The treatment of the disease is basically done with penicillin-based antibiotics that will directly combat the bacteria causing scarlet fever. When the treatment is properly carried out, the results begin to appear in a few days.

The rashes, however, can take up to 3 weeks to completely disappear from the person’s body. There are also some things that can be done to relieve the symptoms of the disease, such as:

  • Drink plenty of water to keep the body hydrated
  • Drink warm liquids like soup to soothe a sore throat
  • Avoid smoke or products that may irritate the throat
  • Eat light and easy-to-swallow foods
  • Get plenty of rest
  • Keep the air humidified

ATTENTION: Never self-medicate. This can worsen your condition and even bring other complications. Always take medication after a medical prescription.

What Are the Complications That Scarlet Fever Can Cause?

When treatment is not carried out properly or is not followed as directed, the disease can cause various complications. The main ones are:

Although there are also other complications that scarlet fever can cause, it is important to know that it can lead to much greater problems than just a sore throat, and for this reason, it is extremely necessary to treat the disease correctly.

Sore throats are very common in both adults and children and are usually not very aggressive for our lives. Nevertheless, it is important to know how to take care of diseases like scarlet fever and to be aware of the consequences that not treating this disease properly can bring.

Although rarer, the complications that scarlet fever brings can seriously affect the lives of those who have them, especially when we are talking about children. Therefore, always pay attention to the symptoms of sore throats and never fail to see a doctor to get the proper treatment.

See Also: Red Spots on Baby’s Skin – What Could It Be?
Photo: Estreya