What are the Symptoms of Scarlet Fever in Children?

Scarlet fever or scarlatina in medical literature is a type of health condition or disease that is caused by the bacteria group A streptococci. This is also the exact type of bacteria that causes strep throat. Nowadays, becoming educated about the different facts and details pertaining to a certain disease is already insufficient in preventing it from affecting our health. This time, certain actions must already be done in order to avoid the bacteria from invading our system. That is why doing proper precautionary actions with regards to the prevention of scarlet fever is needed. This can be done by classifying the mode of transmission of the disease as well as identifying what are the symptoms of scarlet fever in children.

What exactly is Scarlet Fever?

Scarlet fever or scarlatina is an illness that chooses no age or gender. However, this particular disease is more common among children and adolescents less than the age of 18. Just like what is mentioned earlier, scarlet fever is also caused by the same group of bacteria that results to strep throat. Because of this, the presence of sore throat and rashes may also appear once infected with scarlet fever. Fortunately, there have been fewer or lesser cases of this disease in the past years.

What are the Causes of Scarlet Fever?

The streptococcus bacterium is the known causative agent of this health problem. The symptoms or signs produced by this disease are also due to the effects of the toxin being released by the bacteria. Some children are more sensitive to this type of toxin making them more susceptible to developing severe reactions. However, some individuals, particularly the adults are already immune from this toxin allowing them to exhibit lesser reactions. This is the reason why only one out of the two infected individuals may develop the symptoms of this condition.

What is the incubation time of Scarlet fever?

What is the incubation period? The incubation period is said to be the time frame in which the bacterium takes before releasing or exhibiting the first signs and symptoms. In other words, the incubation period is the duration from the time of infection up to the time of the first appearance of the symptoms. All bacteria have incubation periods however, the length of this stage or phase of infection varies from one type of condition to the other. As of scarlet fever, the incubation period in children usually last from one to four days.

What are the common signs and symptoms of scarlet fever?

In children, scarlet fever may develop a wide range of symptoms. However, not all of these symptoms are expected to appear in once case. Some may only develop 2 or 3 symptoms but are already considered infected with the strep bacterium. Some of the most common symptoms of scarlatina include the following:
• Scarlet fever rash – one of the most common indications of scarlet fever. Reddish spots may be seen in the face and the limbs. Some may also appear in the tongue cause a blush color commonly known as “strawberry tongue”.
• Sore throat – since scarlet fever is caused by the same bacterium with strep throat, sore throat is also possible. This is due to the accumulation of the bacteria in the area that causes the throat to swell, become inflamed and exhibit pain and soreness.
• Fever – just like any other infection, fever is also likely possible in scarlet fever. This body reaction is expected to happen since it is the first defense of the body in order to fight off the invading pathogens.
• Chills – chills is also present in some conditions as an accompanying symptom to fever. This is a way for the body to regulate the sudden increase of temperature.
• Reddened face – reddened face is also evident in some cases due to the presence of red rashes as well as the increase in body temperature that causes the face to flush.
• Swelling of the lymph glands – the swelling of the lymph glands is another common indication of infection in the system. This inflammation suggests that a foreign pathogen or bacteria has corrupted the system causing the nearby lymph nodes to swell and enlarge.

Some of the less common symptoms of scarlet fever include:
• Nausea or dizziness
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Body aches
• Peeling of skin after the disappearance of the skin rashes.

These are just some of the known facts and details about the scarlet fever as well as the different and common signs and symptoms of scarlatina in children.

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