Introduction
Scarlet fever is one of the typical childhood diseases and affects most people during their lifetime. The disease is caused by the bacteria streptococci. The highly contagious disease is accompanied by purulent tonsillitis and skin rashes.
Affected people usually also feel subjectively very ill. Although there are some leading symptoms, the disease does not necessarily have to have all symptoms. Antibiotic therapy is necessary for treatment, as this can prevent late complications.
Symptoms in the child
Scarlet fever is a childhood disease and particularly affects children of primary school age. The children have a swollen, red throat and purulent spots on the tonsils. They complain of sore throats and headaches and are weaker than usual.
The tongue is described as raspberry tongue and a rash appears all over the body, leaving the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Around the mouth the children are very pale and the cheeks are rather reddened. The children develop high fever. At the end of the disease the skin flakes. A scarlet fever that has just come through is no reason to exclude further scarlet fever infections.
Symptoms in adults
In principle, scarlet fever in adults is similar to that in children. As with many childhood diseases, the course of scarlet fever is more complicated in adults. In most cases, the first symptom is an inflamed throat and pustule on the tonsils or in the tonsil cavities.
The affected person develops a fever and the typical skin rash. The tongue also takes on a strong red color. The complications can be inflammation of the kidneys, heart or joints.
The sore throat
A sore throat is in most cases the first symptom of a scarlet fever infection and is an obligatory occurrence. The pain is caused by swelling and inflammation of the throat and, if present, the tonsils. The inflammation is usually purulent and the throat is clearly reddened. The pus in the throat indicates that it is more a bacterial infection than a virus and is therefore an important indication of scarlet fever. Sore throat itself is a rather unspecific symptom and occurs in many diseases.
