Scarlet fever is caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria and symptoms include a red rash, fever, strawberry tongue, swollen tonsils and lymph nodes, and body aches. Antibiotics can treat the disease, which can be contagious for up to three weeks without treatment.
One of the most recognizable symptoms of scarlet fever is the red rash that a person develops when affected by the disease. Other symptoms may include a tongue with red bumps, also known as strawberry tongue, and fever. Someone with scarlet fever may also develop red streaks within the folds of their skin, get headaches, or just feel generally unwell. Additionally, vomiting, nausea, chills, and body aches may occur. The tonsils and lymph nodes located in the neck can also swell.
Symptoms are caused when the group A Streptococcus (streptococcus) bacterium infects a person and gives off toxins to which they are sensitive. These are the same bacteria responsible for a sore throat, and in fact, a person with scarlet fever often gets it because they have a sore throat. The disease can also occur due to a streptococcal skin infection, although this is rare.
A red rash, one of the symptoms of scarlet fever, is a characteristic feature of the disease. The rash typically consists of small bumps that give the skin the texture of sandpaper. This rash often begins in the neck and then progresses to the chest and arms until it covers the entire body, producing red streaks in areas where the skin folds. Although the face does not develop a rash, it does turn red, while the area around the mouth remains normal. After about six days, the rash will clear up and the skin may start to peel.
Another of the symptoms of scarlet fever is strawberry tongue. Over the course of the disease, the tongue will have a white or yellowish coating. Some red dots may also be visible. After four or five days, this white coating will peel off, leaving a red tongue with red dots. This is where the term “strawberry tongue” gets its name.
The patient may also develop a fever above 101°F (38.3°C) as one of the symptoms of scarlet fever. The tonsils may become swollen or red, may have a white coating, or may be mottled with pus. Lymph nodes, organs often called lymph glands, located in the neck can also become enlarged. To treat the disease, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics. With treatment, symptoms may resolve within 10 days, but without treatment, a person can remain contagious for up to three weeks.
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