Kids' health - common conditions: Scarlet fever
Scarlet Fever
What is it? A bacterial infection that causes a bright red rash all over the body.
What are the symptoms? Typical things to watch out for are:
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Scarlet rash on the neck and then the body
What should I do? Penicillin or other antibiotics will work on scarlet fever, although many children recover quickly, without the need for any medicine. As with any fever, give lots of drinks and try paracetamol or ibuprofen liquid to reduce the temperature. It's infectious, too, so keep your child off school.
How long will it last? The rash usually lasts about 6 days
When will they get it? Children of any age can come down with this, although it's far less common than it used to be.
What if my child doesn't get it? Scarlet fever is rare in adults, so if your child avoids it, they're unlikely to get it when they're older.
- Find out more about scarlet fever in children
More common conditions
- Appendicitis
- Chicken pox
- Croup
- German measles/Rubella
- Glue ear
- Head lice/Nits
- Measles
- Mumps
- Ringworm
- Slapped cheek syndrome
By Rob Mansfield
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