2023-07-06 16:32:33
Infectious diseases have been on everyone’s lips since the outbreak of the corona pandemic at the latest. These include Flu, RS viruses or influenza, but also childhood illnesses such as measles or whooping cough. You can also go into the second category Scarlet fever classify
But what exactly is behind this term? Which There are symptoms when there is a risk of infection and how can you protect yourself? Here we answer the most important questions about scarlet fever.
Scarlet fever: what does it mean?
Die Pharmacy magazine writes: “Scarlet fever is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called streptococci, which primarily affects children between the ages of four and twelve.” Accordingly, there are one to 1.5 million cases of illness in Germany per year.
Die Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) scarlet fever is one of the “most common infectious diseases” in childhood. Group A streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes) can produce toxins, also known as toxins. Although patients are “protected from the respective toxin of the pathogen” after surviving the disease, other scarlet fever diseases are also possible due to the different toxins.
It goes on to say: “Scarlet fever is highly contagious. The disease therefore frequently occurs in community facilities such as kindergartens or schools, especially in the colder months between October and March.”
Scarlet fever: what are the symptoms and how long is the incubation period?
According to the portal gesundheitsinformation.de In most cases, symptoms appear one to three days after infection. The Pharmacy magazine adds that the symptoms appear “relatively suddenly”. Scarlet fever is manifested by the following symptoms:
deep red tongue (so-called “raspberry tongue”) sore throat dark red throat headache and body aches high fever and chills pain when swallowing skin rash (exanthema) vomiting exhaustion swollen tonsils swollen lymph nodes cough abdominal pain occurs in small children
The “raspberry tongue” is considered a typical feature of scarlet fever. The tongue is initially whitish before appearing shiny red after three to four days. The taste buds are then swollen.
The rash starts loudly Pharmacy magazine “In the armpits and groins, as well as the chest, neck and back. From there it spreads down the trunk, mainly to the insides of the arms and legs.” The rash is rough to the touch, appearing initially as small pale red patches that turn scarlet and coalesce after a day or two.
The palms of the hands and soles of the feet as well as the triangle around the mouth and nose remain free of this rash. When it disappears again after about six to nine days, the skin is peeling – especially on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Life-threatening blood poisoning, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), is mentioned as a possible complication. This also brings diarrhea, drop in blood pressure, liver dysfunction or breathing difficulties. 30 percent of cases would end fatally.
Die BZgA mentions “inflammation of the middle ear, the sinuses and the lungs” as possible complications. Rare but feared is “acute rheumatic fever with inflammation of the large joints such as the knee joints, the heart muscle, the pericardium or the heart valves and inflammation of the kidneys” as a late consequence. Permanent damage cannot be ruled out either.
Complications are particularly observed when no antibiotics are used to treat scarlet fever or antibiotic therapy is stopped prematurely.
Scarlet fever: how can you get infected?
In the BZgA Two ways of contagion are discussed: from person to person and via contaminated objects. According to this, every fifth to tenth person carries the scarlet fever pathogen without becoming ill themselves. The bacteria are expelled when speaking, coughing or sneezing, the pathogens get into the air via the finest droplets of saliva and attach themselves to the mucous membranes of contact persons when they inhale.
Infection via shared objects such as cutlery or toys is much less common. The pathogens can stick to these and then jump over to a contact person. The Pharmacy magazine refers to the risk of becoming infected through contaminated water or contaminated food.
Scarlet fever: How long are sick people contagious?
Sea BZgA The risk of infection with scarlet fever ends after 24 hours if the patient takes antibiotics for treatment. Without such antibiotic therapy, however, the patient is contagious for up to three weeks. As the Pharmacy magazine writes, this period of time can be even longer for people with purulent discharges.
Scarlet fever: can a person become infected more than once?
Yes, because as already mentioned, various toxins are produced by the streptococcal bacteria. However, the immune system only protects against those toxins that have already triggered scarlet fever in the body. The Pharmacy magazine warns: “However, other strains of streptococci with toxins unknown to him can cause scarlet fever again at any time.”
Scarlet fever: are children particularly at risk?
As the BZgA informed, anyone can get scarlet fever. However, an accumulation occurs “in children of kindergarten and school age”. At gesundheitsinformation.de It is said that most cases of scarlet fever affect five to twelve year olds: “Every year about five out of 1000 children get scarlet fever.”
Scarlet fever: How can you protect yourself in particular?
Here recommends the BZgAto avoid contact with contagious people and to wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water. A preventive treatment of contact persons with antibiotics is therefore only “recommended for people who are particularly at risk and who suffer from serious underlying diseases or a weakened immune system”.
Scarlet Fever: Is There a Vaccination?
No, this explains the Pharmacy magazine with the fact that there are too many variants of the scarlet fever pathogen.
Scarlet fever: how is the disease diagnosed?
As the Pharmacy magazine reported that doctors also look into the mouth and ears when examining the patient. Although there is a rapid antigen test that works on Streptococcus pyogenes, it is not considered sensitive enough – so diseases also go undetected.
If the test result is negative, a bacterial culture should therefore be taken from a throat swab. These are cultivated in the laboratory, which allows the different subgroups of bacteria to be diagnosed. Loud gesundheitsinformation.de a more precise result of a tonsil swab can be obtained in the laboratory within one to two days.
Scarlet fever: how is the disease treated?
As already mentioned, scarlet fever is treated with antibiotics in most cases, because then the infection time is also significantly reduced. The Pharmacy magazine calls “a ten-day course of treatment with a penicillin preparation (penicillin, amoxicillin, or ampicillin) in tablet or juice (oral) form”. For children, alternatively, “a five-day oral treatment with cephalosporins” can be used.
For example, “in the case of allergies to penicillin, other antibiotics such as erythromycin are also used”. The decision is made by the pediatrician.
Gargling or lozenges can help against a sore throat. Here, however, a doctor should be consulted in any case, because small children are overwhelmed with both.
If the body temperature is more than 38.5 degrees, calf wraps or medication with antipyretic agents can be used. Here, too, the doctor should be asked for advice beforehand – for example with regard to the dosage or the dosage form.
Important: Children under the age of twelve should not be given acetylsalicylic acid, otherwise there is a risk of serious complications from infections.
The children are so weakened by taking antibiotics that they should stay in bed for a few days. A lot of attention from the caregiver is also helpful.
Die BZgA refers to side effects such as nausea, diarrhea or skin rashes in antibiotic therapy. However, the intake should under no circumstances be stopped prematurely if the symptoms evaporate. Because only after the specified period of time have all pathogens been killed with certainty.
Here it is also recommended to drink a lot – ideally water, diluted juices or herbal teas. In addition, warm drinks and soft food such as porridge or soup should be consumed difficulties swallowing to make it more bearable.
Scarlet fever: What restrictions are there for those who are ill?
The Infection Protection Act stipulates that people suspected of having scarlet fever are not allowed to enter community facilities such as kindergartens or schools. In addition, it applies to adults that they may not engage in any activities where they come into contact with other people if they may contract scarlet fever. This applies, for example, to teachers or educators.
To be able to take part in community activities again after recovering from the illness is noisy BZgA no written medical certificate required. However, the doctor or the health department decides when.
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