Scarlet Fever
Scarlet Fever is an illness transmitted via bacteria that develops either entirely on its own or in people who have Strep Throat. It is caused by the same bacteria that causes Strep Throat, Group A Streptococcus, which is why it develops from Strep Throat a lot of the time. Nicknames for this illness are Scarlatina or Sandpaper rash. Symptoms include red rash, red lines, flushed face, strawberry tongue, fever of 100.4 or above, belly pain, headache and body aches, difficulty swallowing, and enlarged lymph nodes tender to the touch. Red rash looks like an intense sunburn and feels like sandpaper, beginning on the face and/or neck and spreading to every part of the body. Strawberry tongue is when the tongue is covered with a white coating. Red lines are these deep red lines appearing in different folds of the skin in areas such as armpits, elbows, knees, and neck. Scarlet Fever is most common in children ages 5 to 15 and is often transmitted through schools and nurseries, however people of any age can get the illness. A common way anyone transmits the illness is through coming in contact with contaminated bedsheets, blankets, clothing, towels, or anything of the sort. Although, Scarlet Fever can be disinfected from cloth material by putting it in boiling water, as the boiling temperature kills the germs.
The best ways to prevent Scarlet Fever are to wash your hands, keep from sharing food/drink or dining utensils, and covering your mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing. When going to the doctor, they will diagnose Scarlet Fever by doing a physical exam of the rash and throat, a throat swab to confirm bacteria, and a rapid strep test. To treat Scarlet Fever, it is advised to use over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, soothing drops for throat pain, soft foods and cold drinks, plenty of liquid, gargling salt water, using a cool mist humidifier, and an over-the-counter anti-itch cream.
In the 1900s, Scarlet Fever was treated a lot of the times by isolation, nourishment, and the medications of the time. It was common practice to use isolation hospitals or utilize a bedroom in your home for isolation, if you had the money to bring a doctor to your home.
​
Sources
​
Mayo Clinic. “Scarlet Fever - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/scarlet-fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20377406.
​
Smith, Philip W., et al. “Infection Control through the Ages.” American Journal of Infection Control, vol. 40, no. 1, Feb. 2012, pp. 35–42, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2011.02.019.
​
“The Basics of Scarlet Fever.” WebMD, www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-scarlet- fever-basics.