What body systems does scarlet fever affect?
Although scarlet fever was once considered a serious childhood illness, antibiotic treatments have made it less threatening. Still, if left untreated, scarlet fever can result in more-serious conditions that affect the heart, kidneys and other parts of the body.
What happens when you have scarlet fever?
Scarlet Fever: What to Expect Illness usually begins with a fever and sore throat. There may also be chills, vomiting, or abdominal pain. The tongue may have a whitish coating and appear swollen. It may also have a “strawberry”-like (red and bumpy) appearance.
What kind of disease is scarlet fever?
Scarlet fever is a bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus or “group A strep.” The classic symptoms of the disease are a sore throat and a certain type of red rash that feels rough, like sandpaper. Although anyone can get scarlet fever, it is most common in children ages 5 through 15 years old.
Is scarlet fever an autoimmune disease?
Rheumatic fever is a complex disease that affects the joints, skin, heart, blood vessels, and brain. It occurs mainly in children between the ages of 5 to 15. It is an autoimmune disease that may occur after an infection with strep (streptococcus) bacteria. Strep infections include strep throat and scarlet fever.
What are the long term effects of scarlet fever?
Long-term effects of scarlet fever Complications include: Swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Sinus, skin, and ear infections. Pockets of pus, or abscesses, around your tonsils.
Is scarlet fever fatal?
Historically, scarlet fever resulted in death in 15-20% of those affected. However, scarlet fever is no longer associated with the deadly epidemics that made it so feared in the 1800s. Since the advent of antibiotic therapy, the mortality rate for scarlet fever has been less than 1%.
What antibiotics treat scarlet fever?
Penicillin or amoxicillin is the antibiotic of choice to treat scarlet fever.
Does scarlet fever cause rheumatoid arthritis?
What causes rheumatic fever? Rheumatic fever is an overreaction of your body’s immune system that causes it to fight healthy tissues. An untreated strep throat or scarlet fever infection can trigger this overreaction. It happens when group A streptococcus infections are not adequately treated with antibiotics.
Does scarlet fever cause brain damage?
Complications are rare with the right treatment, but may include: Acute rheumatic fever, which can affect the heart, joints, skin, and brain. Ear infection. Kidney damage.
Does scarlet fever affect your eyesight?
The mechanism for scarlet fever causing permanent blindness is uncertain. It is conceivable that it could be a postinfectious autoimmune phenomenon, such as optic neuritis. However, there are few cases reported, of which most were temporary and some likely misattributed cases of meningitis.