Scarlet fever

Question 1

What is scarlet fever?

Answer 1

A disease resulting from a group A streptococcus infection

Question 2

What causes scarlet fever?

Answer 2

Streptococcus pyogenes

Via throat or skin infection

Question 3

What age group does scarlet fever usually affect?

Answer 3

5-15 year old

Question 4

How can scarlet fever be prevented?

Answer 4

No vaccine

Prevention is by frequent handwashing, not sharing personal items, and staying away from other people when sick

Question 5

What are the signs and symptoms of scarlet fever?

Answer 5

Strawberry tongue
Rash (will shed skin within 1 week)
Sore throat, fever, fatigue, enlarged tonsils, enlarged lymph nodes

Question 6

What are the complications if scarlet fever is left untreated?

Answer 6

Acute rheumatic fever
Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis
Poststreptococcal reactive arthritis

Question 7

How would you treat a patient with scarlet fever?

Answer 7

Antibiotics

Mainly oral penicillin, or liquid amoxicillin

Question 8

How long after exposure to a pathogen does someone develop scarlet fever?

Answer 8

12 hours to 7 days –) fever, fatigue, sore throat

The characteristic scarlatiniform rash appears 12–48 hours later

No longer infectious after 24 hours on antibiotics

Question 9

What is the prognosis for scarlet fever?

Answer 9

Good, if antibiotics are given within 9 days