Scarlet fever
Description:
Scarlet fever is called the streptococcal infectious disease which is characterized by dot rash and rough reactions of a macroorganism to activator erythrotoxin.
Scarlet fever reasons:
The infectious agent who causes scarlet fever has the bacterial nature and is called a streptococcus. This microorganism has an appearance of the chains consisting of separate balls microbes. Except scarlet fever, the streptococcus causes also other diseases, for example, an ugly face, rheumatism, quinsy and other diseases.
Getting to an organism most often in the airborne way, the streptococcus colonizes a cavity of a stomatopharynx and emits special toxin – erythrotoxin ("red toxin"). Through almonds the infection is carried on all organism. It is noted that 9 of 10 diseased are children up to 16 years, children till 1 year practically are never ill since they have a congenital immunity. The disease postponed once for the rest of life puts aside immunity.
Scarlet fever symptoms:
The incubation interval is very variable, and can proceed from 1 to 12 days. Symptoms arise sharply. Body temperature rises to 39 C. At the same time there is a headache, the expressed weakness, and also the catarral phenomena from upper respiratory tracts. In the first day of a disease skin becomes covered by a punctate rash. Rash is result of effect of erythrogene toxin. Elements of rash have bright red color and can be exfoliated, having 2 mm a diameter. Because of rash skin becomes similar to the reddened goose-pimples. Rash is most expressed in the field of elbow bends, skin folds.
The type of the person is characteristic of the patient with scarlet fever: cheeks are hyperemic, on a forehead and temples rash, and a chin and an upper lip pale is also localized. At a palpation in the field of corners of a mandible the increased lymph nodes come to light. Survey of a pharynx finds a pharynx hyperemia, increase in almonds and formation of pustules in them. Language has crimson coloring, nipples of language are increased.
Rash at scarlet fever keeps up to 4 days, gradually decreasing. From the 6th day on site of rash the peeling lasting approximately till 3rd week is observed.
Skin rash at scarlet fever
Type of language at scarlet fever
Treatment of Scarlet fever:
Patients with a severe form of scarlet fever, and also patients from families where there are children who were not ill earlier up to 7-8 years, have to be treated in specialized departments. Otherwise carrying out an out-patient course of therapy is possible.
The causative agent of scarlet fever is sensitive to antibiotics, first of all penicillin. In case of intolerance of penicillin its replacement is possible. At untimely treatment the probability of development of complications of scarlet fever – rheumatism, a glomerulonephritis, etc. is high. It is very important to finish a full course of an antibioticotherapia to avoid complications.
In case of implementation of the activator not classical, airborne, way, and, for example, through damages of integuments, the principles of therapy do not change.
The sick child should not attend kindergarten or school, and also any other public institutions, within 12 more days after recovery.
