SCARLET FEVER

This fear of scarlet fever led to homes being quarantined. Picture from Dubuque courtesy of the Library of Congress.

SCARLET FEVER. Scarlet fever is caused by a form of streptococcus. The fever was given this name because of the yellowish red hue given to the cheeks of the face. The disease is more common in younger children and can spread from the cheeks to the entire body.

The incubation is from two to three days. Symptoms include sore throat, fever, headache, discolored tongue, chills and rash after entering the bloodstream. This disease can also contribute to rheumatic fever and pneumonia. The rash usually fades after five days to three weeks after which the noninfectious upper layer of the skin sheds away. The throat can continue to be red and swollen for days after the rash has vanished.

Mild cases of scarlet fever can be treated with bed rest and something as simple as aspirin. Aspirin may not be recommended when treating children. The more serious cases which can be fatal, may require the use of an antibiotic, such as penicillin, which has made the fever less common over the years.