Overview about Scarlet Fever in Children

Children below eighteen years old are more likely to experience scarlet fever. The condition is typically indicated with major symptoms including sore throat, chills, fever and rashes. Less common symptoms would include headache, vomiting, nausea and aching body. Once the rashes disappear, peeling of skin flakes usually follow. It usually starts from the finger tips down to the toes.

Proper diagnosis is necessary for every child who develops potential signs of scarlet fever in order to evade from severe complications. Once diagnosed, the doctor will usually prescribe some antibiotics as medication. Antibiotics are so far, effective in alleviating infections. Other treatments to cure other symptoms are also available.

Scarlet fever in children is triggered with the same bacteria causing strep throat -- the group A streptococcus. Such bacteria typically release toxins that brought forth the symptoms. Children who are susceptible to these toxins are more likely to develop scarlet fever, while the others can be immune to them. This is the rationale behind the fact of two children in the family who both suffer from strep throat, yet only one of them acquires scarlet fever.

In children patients, scarlet fever incubation period starts from the onset of the infection to the initial symptoms indicating scarlet fever. This typically takes one to four days maximum.