Scarlet fever is a fairly common and dangerous infectious disease, which is accompanied by lesions of the larynx, as well as the appearance of a small rash on the skin. Statistics show that children are more prone to this disease than adults. That is why many parents are interested in questions about what the symptoms of scarlet fever look like in a child and how the disease is treated.
Scarlet fever: the main causes of the disease
As already mentioned, this is an infectious disease caused by streptococci. And before you find out what the main symptoms of scarlet fever in a child are, you should also take an interest in the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms. In fact, the source of infection is an infected person, and he can be both a sick person and a latent carrier of bacteria. The route of transmission is mainly airborne. However, it is possible to become infected by sharing dishes and cutlery, toys, clothes, bedding, towels, etc. Incubation periodrelatively short - the first signs appear already 3-7 days after the penetration of pathogenic bacteria into the body.
Scarlet fever in children: photos and main symptoms
The disease, as a rule, begins sharply and unexpectedly. In fact, the symptoms of scarlet fever in a child are very characteristic, they can hardly be overlooked:
- The disease begins with a sharp rise in body temperature to 38-40 degrees. At the same time, the child complains of chills, weakness, dizziness.
- After a few hours, rashes appear on the skin. The rash with scarlet fever in children looks like small bright pink vesicles. They cover mainly the skin of the cheeks, arms, buttocks, inguinal and axillary folds.
- Scarlet fever also affects the throat, leading to the development of angina of varying severity. On closer examination, you can find a red swollen pharynx. The kid complains of sore throat, refuses to eat and drink.
- For the first 3-4 days, the child's tongue is covered with a brown coating, which then disappears, exposing the tissues of a rich red color - this symptom is called the "crimson" tongue.
How dangerous is scarlet fever?
Noticing the main symptoms of scarlet fever in a child, you should immediately call a doctor or take the baby to the hospital. In no case should you ignore the problem or self-medicate. The fact is that in the absence of therapy, the disease is accompanied by a number of complications. In particular, streptococcus often releases dangerous toxins into the blood that affect the workimmune system, causing an intense allergic reaction and autoimmune disorders. For example, often against the background of scarlet fever, antibodies begin to attack the own cells of the heart and kidneys, leading to various kinds of disorders.
Scarlet fever treatment
To treat this disease, antibiotics are used, which really effectively cope with the disease. The first few days the baby is shown rest and strict bed rest. In addition, frequent gargling with a decoction of chamomile or sage is recommended. Quite often, doctors prescribe appropriate doses of vitamin C and antihistamines. In any case, a sick child should be isolated from he althy people for the duration of treatment. Hospitalization is indicated only for severe forms of scarlet fever, which are accompanied by complications.
