Scarlet fever
The illness is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria, also known as Group A Streptococcus, which are found on the skin and in the throat.
The symptoms of scarlet fever usually develop 2 to 5 days after infection. However, the incubation period (the period between exposure to the infection and symptoms appearing) can be as short as one day or as long as 7 days.
Speak to your GP if:
You or your child:
have symptoms of scarlet fever
do not get better in a week (after seeing a GP)
have scarlet fever and chickenpox at the same time
are ill again weeks after scarlet fever got better – this can be a sign of a complication like rheumatic fever
are feeling unwell and have been in contact with someone who has scarlet fever
Rash
The distinctive rough pink-red rash caused by scarlet fever.https://dermnetnz.org/
The distinctive pink-red rash caused by scarlet fever develops 12 to 48 hours after symptoms like a sore throat or headache.
Red blotches are the first sign of the rash. These turn into a fine pink-red rash that feels like sandpaper to touch and looks like sunburn. It may also be itchy.
On darker skin the rash may be more difficult to see although its rough texture should be apparent.
The rash usually starts on the chest and stomach, but soon spreads to other parts of the body, like the:
ears
neck
elbows
inner thighs
groin
The rash doesn’t usually spread to the face. However, the cheeks become flushed and the area just around the mouth stays quite pale. The rash will turn white if you press a glass on it.
The rash usually fades after about a week, but the outer layers of skin, usually on the hands and feet, may peel for several weeks afterwards.
In milder cases, sometimes called scarlatina, the rash may be the only symptom.
Other symptoms of scarlet fever
Other symptoms of scarlet fever may include:
swollen neck glands
loss of appetite
nausea or vomiting
red lines in the folds of the body, such as the armpit, which may last a couple of days after the rash has gone
a white coating on the tongue, which peels a few days later leaving the tongue red and swollen (this is known as strawberry tongue)
a general feeling of being unwell
Symptoms
Scarlet fever usually follows a sore throat or a skin infection, like impetigo, caused by particular strains of Streptococcus bacteria.
The symptoms of scarlet fever usually develop 2 to 5 days after infection. However, the incubation period (the period between exposure to the infection and symptoms appearing) can be as short as one day or as long as 7 days.
Speak to your GP if:
You or your child:
have symptoms of scarlet fever
do not get better in a week (after seeing a GP)
have scarlet fever and chickenpox at the same time
are ill again weeks after scarlet fever got better – this can be a sign of a complication like rheumatic fever
are feeling unwell and have been in contact with someone who has scarlet fever
Rash
The distinctive rough pink-red rash caused by scarlet fever.https://dermnetnz.org/
The distinctive pink-red rash caused by scarlet fever develops 12 to 48 hours after symptoms like a sore throat or headache.
Red blotches are the first sign of the rash. These turn into a fine pink-red rash that feels like sandpaper to touch and looks like sunburn. It may also be itchy.
On darker skin the rash may be more difficult to see although its rough texture should be apparent.
The rash usually starts on the chest and stomach, but soon spreads to other parts of the body, like the:
ears
neck
elbows
inner thighs
groin
The rash doesn’t usually spread to the face. However, the cheeks become flushed and the area just around the mouth stays quite pale. The rash will turn white if you press a glass on it.
The rash usually fades after about a week, but the outer layers of skin, usually on the hands and feet, may peel for several weeks afterwards.
In milder cases, sometimes called scarlatina, the rash may be the only symptom.
Other symptoms of scarlet fever
Other symptoms of scarlet fever may include:
swollen neck glands
loss of appetite
nausea or vomiting
red lines in the folds of the body, such as the armpit, which may last a couple of days after the rash has gone
a white coating on the tongue, which peels a few days later leaving the tongue red and swollen (this is known as strawberry tongue)
a general feeling of being unwell