Scarlet fever- One of the deadliest fevers that’s there

2021-12-17 00:00:00

Nowadays it is common to get infected due to a polluted environment due to which people are easily surrounded by diseases like cold and flu (influenza). One of those diseases is scarlet fever which is often seen in young children; however, complaints of this fever are also found in some adults. The symptoms of fever are similar to normal fever but they often start with a sore throat and burning sensation due to which there is difficulty in eating, drinking and swallowing. At the same time, this fever can also prove to be fatal if it is not treated on time. Let us know about the various causes, symptoms and treatment of scarlet fever through this blog.

What is scarlet fever?

Scarlet fever is known as Scarlatina in the medical language. This fever is a type of infection that spreads from one person to another. Scarlet fever causes red rashes all over the body. These rashes first appear on the face. After that, these spread to the throat and the whole body. Its initial symptoms are like sunburn in appearance. If a child has a sore throat, then in this condition he is more likely to get scarlet fever because of the bacteria that spreads scarlet fever. The same bacteria also cause sore throat. This type of fever is mostly seen in children between 4 and 15 years of age.

Symptoms of Scarlet fever

The initial symptoms of scarlet fever are similar to those of a sunburn but ignoring them can lead to serious consequences. In the absence of treatment, there is a high possibility of its bacteria(s) growing. It is an infection spread through contaminated food and water. Let's look at the common symptoms of scarlet fever-

Red rash on the body-

When there is scarlet fever, the first symptom is a red rash-like sunburn that starts appearing on the body of children. Usually, this rash starts in the mouth and then spreads from the neck to the chest, abdomen, hands and feet. If children itch somewhere on these grains, then these rash turns yellow.

Redline visible-

In scarlet fever, along with the rash, red lines are seen on many parts of the body like the waist, elbows, knees and neck etc. which slowly starts to deepen.

Swelling of face-

Yellow circles appear on the face due to scarlet fever. This makes the face look swollen.

Tongue dark red (strawberry-like)

When there is scarlet fever, the tongue feels deep red and raised. Apart from this, a white coating also gets on the tongue.

Other possible symptoms of scarlet fever-

• Feeling difficulty swallowing.
• Having trouble speaking.
• Vomiting and nausea.
• Loss of appetite.
• Feeling weak.
• Pain in joints and muscles.

Causes of Scarlet fever

There are many reasons why people can suffer from scarlet fever. Mainly scarlet fever is caused by the growth of Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria in the body. This same bacteria also spread infection in the throat and mouth which cause sore throat, burning sensation and sore throat etc.

It is said about this bacteria that if this bacteria or virus enters the body, then it infects the whole body in 2 to 3 days. These bacteria create toxic elements in the body due to which red rashes occur in the body.

Let us know about some of the reasons for this-

• Consumption of food and water containing contaminated bacteria.
• By coming in contact with infected persons.
• Due to the ingress of microscopic particles present in the contaminated air inside the body.
• Weakness of immunity.
• Transfusion of contaminated blood during treatment.

Precautions for Scarlet Fever

• Take special care of cleanliness.
• Do not smoke.
• Keep children away from dusty and polluted places.
• Keep a handkerchief over your mouth when you have a cold and cough.
• Do not use anyone's used utensils and food items.
• Don't feed your pickings food to your kids.
• Do not share your bed, towel, pillow etc. with anyone else.
• Wash your hands with warm water and soap.
• Drink clean boiled water.
• Do not consume raw food.
• Eat only properly cooked and hot food.
• Avoid drinks and foods from outside stores.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap before eating food.
• Teach children to wash their hands too.
• Keep infected people away from household tasks.

Home remedies for Scarlet fever

Take a good rest

Taking enough rest is very essential for the body in scarlet fever as it helps in avoiding exertion and further deterioration of health.

Drink plenty of fluids

Drink warm liquids like tea and soup to get relief from sore throat and swelling.

Apart from this, give more and more fluids like boiled water, fresh fruit juice, herbal tea etc. to the children to avoid the problem of dehydration.

Keep children in a moist environment

Moist air provides relief in rashes and swelling in children's bodies. Along with this, it also helps in healing the throat of the child.

Gargle with warm saltwater

Gargle with a teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water. By doing this, you and your children get relief from sore throat and swelling.

Tulsi

Tulsi is used as a home remedy for cough, cold, diarrhoea or other infections. It kills viruses and bacteria in the body and also enhances immunity.

Honey Tea-

Honey mixed tea is one of the home remedies for scarlet fever because it helps in reducing both throat discomfort and fever. Therefore, this tea (honey mixed tea) proves to be beneficial in case of scarlet fever or sore throat.

Apple cider vinegar-

Apple cider vinegar is one of the best medicines for scarlet fever because it contains acetic acid which has antimicrobial properties that fight against bacterial and virus infections.

Lemon and honey are effective-

According to Ayurveda, both lemon and honey have immunity-boosting properties, that is why Ayurvedic doctors recommend the use of lemon and honey in case of scarlet fever because this mixture detoxifies the body and also increases immunity of the body. For this, take a glass of lukewarm water mixed with lemon juice and honey.

Coriander is helpful-

Coriander tea works as an effective medicine in scarlet fever. Coriander seeds enhance the body's immune system to fight viruses and bacteria. For this, make tea by adding a tablespoon of coriander powder, a little milk and sugar in a glass of water and give it to the patient twice a day.

When to go to the Doctor?

• Facing trouble while breathing.
• Severe swallowing problems.
• Fever above 101 degrees F or 38 degrees C.
• Having difficulty sleeping.
• Having more rashes on the body.
• When sore throat or swollen lymph glands appear.
• If there is severe pain in the stomach, nausea or vomiting etc.