Parents have been warned to look out for the signs of scarlet fever, as the number of reported cases in the United Kingdom continues to grow.
It has been confirmed that today’s figures are similar to those from the 1960s. The high levels are a major concern as the disease is highly contagious.
The medical journal, The Lancet stated, “England is experiencing an unprecedented rise in scarlet fever with the highest incidence for nearly 50 years.”
The cause for the rise in scarlet fevers is not yet known, “The reasons for this escalation are unclear and identifying these remains a public health priority.”
Luckily, the disease is a lot easier to treat than it once was. Doctors tend to treat scarlet fever with a round of antibiotics.
The number of reported cases has reached 17,350 for the year 2017.
Medical experts have asked parents to watch out for the symptoms of the disease which is caused by infection with the group A Streptococcus bacterium.
The symptoms of scarlet fever include:
- Abdominal pain
- Bright red colour in the creases of the groin and underarm
- Fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.3 degrees Celsius or higher
- Chills
- General discomfort and malaise
- A headache
- Muscle aches
- A sore throat
- Swollen, red tongue and sometimes, a whitish coating (strawberry tongue)
- Vomiting
Children tend to show symptoms a day or two after becoming infected. Your child will usually get a sore throat and fever, followed by the appearance of a rash on their chest and neck at first.
The rash will continue to spread over the body. It feels like sandpaper when you touch it and resembles a sunburn.
Keep an eye out for the symptoms, mums!
