Introduction

Scarlet fever, also known as scarlatina, is a disease caused by a toxin (erythrogenic exotoxin) released by Streptococcus pyogenes or group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus – the disease occurs in a small percentage of patients with strep infections, such as strep throat or impetigo. Although scarlet fever may be used interchangeably with scarlet fever, scarlet is fever more commonly used to refer to the less acute form of scarlet fever.

Risk Factors in case of scarlet fever

Children 5 to 15 years of age are more likely than are other people to get scarlet fever. Scarlet fever germs spread more easily among people in close contact, such as family members or classmates.

Sign and symptoms of scarlet fever

Sore throat and a bright red, finely textured, and raised rash are most common. With impetigo, the skin sores are red and weeping and then crust over. On examination, a strep throat infection appears as red, swollen tissue in the back of the throat.

White or yellow patches called exudates may be present. The normal bumps on the tongue may become exaggerated, and the area, surrounding the mouth may appear pale.

The creases of the skin may look darker than usual, referred to as pastia lines. Other common symptoms include chills, body aches, and headache. Nausea and vomiting may occur. The rash usually starts in the central areas of the body, then spreads over the rest of the body, and persists for several days. Afterward, the skin of the fingertip and toes may pale.

 Contagiousness

Scarlet fever is extremely contagious, people can catch it by breathing in the bacteria in airborne droplets that come from an infected individual’s sneezes or coughs. Infection may also occur as a result of touching the skin of an infected person, or touching surfaces or objects that the infected person has touched.

Complications of scarlet fever

If scarlet fever goes untreated, the bacteria may spread to the:

• Tonsils
• Sinuses
• Skin
• Blood
• Middle ear

Rarely, scarlet fever can lead to rheumatic fever, a serious condition that can affect the:

• Heart
• Joints
• Nervous system
• Skin

Diagnosis of scarlet fever

• Physical examination
• Throat swab
  If we suspect strep as the cause of child’s illness, we’ll swab the tonsils and back of child’s throat to collect material that may harbor the strep bacteria. Tests for the strep bacterium are important because a number of conditions can cause the signs and symptoms of scarlet fever, and these illnesses may require different treatments. If there are no strep bacteria, then some other factor is causing the illness.
  • A rapid antigen detection test

• Conditionof child’s throat, tonsils and tongue.
• Child’s neck to determine if lymph nodes are enlarged.
• Assess the appearance and texture of the rash

Sometimes referred to as a rapid strep test, may provide results within several minutes, while a throat culture (which is more sensitive) may require 24-48 hours before the results are available.

• A complete blood count

May demonstrate evidence of infection, and streptococcal antibody testing (for example, the antistreptolysin O test) can provide evidence of a previous streptococcal infection, though this test is not useful in the acute phase of the illness.

Homeopathic treatment of scarlet fever

Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach. This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat scarlet fever but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several remedies are available to treat scarlet that can be selected on the basis of cause, sensations and modalities of the complaints.  For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. There are following remedies which are helpful in the treatment of scarlet fever:

 Belladonna – excellent remedy for scarlet fever; bright red rosy hue to the skin; throat bright red; strawberry tongue and the glandular swelling. Symptoms of cerebral irritation, such as delirium, twitching of muscles, uneasy sleep.

Gelsemium – here the patients are quiet and listless; stupid and prostrated; the pulse is throbbing, but compressible. The asthenic form, with great prostration, is more often met with in poorly nourished children, and here Gelsemium is often the remedy.

Arsenic Album – rash does not come out properly; child is thrown into convulsions and lies pale and in a sort of stupor with restlessness and moaning; suddenly it seems to arouse, goes into convulsions, and then relapses again into stupor.

Aconite – scarlet rash with high fever, full, quick pulse; dry, hot, burning skin, over sensitiveness to external impressions. Scarlet fever, throat dark-red, with burning and sticking pain when swallowing, which may extend to ears; auricle red, sensitive, hot to touch and swollen.

Arnica Montana – typhoid scarletina, with nosebleed and haemotope, aggravation from coughing; head and breast warm; sweat sour, and offensive, sometimes cold; repeated attacks of heat.

Ammonium Carb – useful remedy in scarlet fever; swelling of throat internally and externally; tonsils are swollen and bluish; glands are enlarged.

Lachesis – child is drowsy and the rash comes out imperfectly and slowly, is dark, interspersed with a military rash; inflammation of throat, of cervical glands, tongue is dirty yellow.

Bryonia – one of the best remedies for scarlet fever; tardy development of rash; headache; brownish tongue; increased thirst; sharp pain in chest.