By: Jillian Lach
What is Scarlet Fever?
Scarlet Fever is a disease that produces a bacterial toxin that causes a red rash on the body and can also affect the tongue. Although it is not as common anymore and is quite rare due to advanced medicine and technology making it possible for strong antibiotics to be developed, it is still a risk factor for kids ranging from 5 years old to 15 years old. The main cause of scarlet fever is strep throat. Everyone knows the flu, cold, and strep season. Because these are so contagious and easy to spread, 11,000-20,000 kids may get strep throat each year in the United States. In a very serious case of scarlet fever that cannot be treated, complications can cause heart failure, kidney problems, hepatitis, and even death. However, this is very uncommon in today’s society and most people can recover quickly with the help of medicine and antibiotics.
History
Although the mortality rate for scarlet fever is now less than 1%, scarlet fever was one of the deadliest diseases in the 1800’s and 1900’s, being known as one of the worst epidemics in the 19th century. It killed thousands of people, the death rate being around 100,000 to 150,000. It was easily contagious and spread by droplets from coughing and sneezing (as it still can be spread this way today). Since medicine was not advanced back then as it is today, scarlet fever could lead to meningitis, pneumonia, and even liver and kidney damage. No antibiotics were developed for scarlet fever in the 19th century; therefore, many people who couldn’t fight it off died, increasing fatality rates for scarlet disease and causing a decrease in population.
Symptoms
What are some symptoms of scarlet fever? It will usually start out with a sore throat, fever, headache, and even swollen lymph nodes. One symptom that will usually stand out the most is a rash. Children can get a red rash that is often identified as feeling like sandpaper and consists of red bumps along certain areas of the body (common areas are neck, back, face, etc.). The most common symptom is a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes, for scarlet fever initiates from group A strep. Strep is an infection that causes your tongue to be inflamed and your throat to feel scratchy or sore. If not treated correctly, it can develop into scarlet fever and cause a much more serious result.
Treatment
Scarlet fever can be treated with antibiotics and other medicines, the most common medications being penicillin and amoxicillin tablets which can also be given in liquid form for young children. It is most commonly treated with a 10 day course of antibiotics, which should clear up the infection and cause one to feel all better. It mostly requires one’s body to get a lot of rest and let the antibiotics do the rest to fight off the infection. If it is a serious case of scarlet fever, hospitalization is required to ensure that no serious problems are developed.
Summary
In conclusion, scarlet fever is not deadly as it used to be. Advanced medicine provides doctors today with possibilities that can cure strep throat easily before it can develop into scarlet fever or anything else that can be dangerous. However, it is still important to educate yourself and others on what scarlet fever is and the history of it. It is also extremely important to donate and spread awareness to help support children in fighting their battles and learn more ways on how you can help and make a positive impact on the community.
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