Incubation Period Period of Illness

It usually takes 2-5 days before the

Scarlet fever lasts for about a week. The most significant oral and systemic signs and
first symptoms appear for someone
symptoms are:
Whitish coating on the tongue during the early onset of the illness
EXPOSURE exposed to group A strep. The
"Strawberry" (red and rough) tongue during the early stage of the disease
and symptoms of scarlet fever include a
Fiery red palate
TRANSMISSION ACQUISITION sore throat, headache, high

Scarlet fever a.k.a.

Swollen tonsils and faucal pillars which are sometimes covered by grayish exudates.

scarlatina is a type of group

Scarlet fever may be
temperature (38.3C/101F) or above),
Tongue becomes deep red, glistening and smooth except for the swollen
flushed face and swollen tongue. hyperemic papilla called "raspberry tongue" or "red strawberry tongue" in tha later
A strep infections that are
acquired through inhaling
stage.
most commonly spread
bacteria in airborne
High fever
Inflamed and extremely sore throat
through direct person-to-
droplets from an infected
Swollen lymph node
person transmission.
person's coughs and
Red skin rash that has a sandpaper feel
Radiant red skin in the folds of the underarm, elbow, and crotch (the region where
Typically transmission
sneezes. Also, when a
your stomach meets your thighs)
occurs through saliva or
person touches sores on

nasal secretions from an

the skin caused by group
PROGRESSION
infected person. A strep (impetigo).

Prodromal Period Covalescence Period

Most moderate cases of scarlet fever

Within 48 to 72 hours after the

resolve themselves within a week without

incubation period, comes the

treatment. The rash blurs in around 7

prodromal period. Often prodrome

days. As the rash blurs, the skin might

of sore throat, fever, headache,

peel around the fingertips, toes, and

nausea vomiting, abdominal pain,

crotch region. This peeling may last a

little while. However, treatment is

and myalgia.
SCARLET FEVER important, as this will accelerate

recovery. With treatment, most people

(STOMATITIS recover in about four to five days and can

return to their normal lives 24 hours after

SCARLATINA) starting antibiotic treatment. If you do not

take antibiotics, you can spread the

infection for 2 to 3 weeks after your

symptoms start.
COMPLICATIONS
Scarlet fever can lead
FACTORS

AFFECTING

to complications, which
TRANSMISSION
happens rarely but if

Children, especially those

the bacteria spreads to

between the ages of 5 and 15,

other parts of the body,

TREATMENT
are at a higher risk of

this can happen. contracting the disease, and

Scarlet fever is still far for

scarlet fever is uncommon in

Scarlet fever can lead to

children under the age of three.

Abscesses around the from being preventable

more serious diseases that

Parents, relatives, and anyone

tonsils Post-streptococcal at this time. Antibiotics

damage the heart, kidneys,

DISABILITY (penicillin, dicloxacillin,
who comes into close contact

glomerulonephritis The resulting disease is usually

Swollen lymph nodes

and other sections of the
self-limiting, but a more invasive
and cephalexin) are used
with school-aged children are

in the neck body if it is not addressed. infection that is left untreated

to treat the condition
more likely to contract the

Arthritis
might be fatal. Scarlet fever
because they aid in
disease.
Pneumonia DEATH used to kill 15-20% of those who
speedier recovery,

were infected and was the main

lessening the patient's

Rheumatic fever cause of mortality in children,

symptoms, preventing the

but antibiotics have reduced

disease from spreading

Ear, sinus, and skin these deaths to less than 1%

further, and preventing

infections fever now. scarlet fever sequelae.

REFERENCES:

Rajendran, R. & Sivapathasundharam, B. (2012). Shafer's Textbook of Oral Pathology. 7th Edition. Elsevier Inc.

Regezi, J. A., Sciubba, J. J., & Jordan, R. C. K. (2017). Oral Pathology: Clinical Pathologic Correlation. 7th Edition. Elsevier Inc.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2019, October 16). Scarlet fever. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved April 24, 2022,
from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/scarlet-fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20377406

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, March 22). Scarlet fever: All you need to know. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-public/scarlet-
fever.html#:~:text=Pneumonia%20(lung%20infection),Arthritis%20(joint%20inflammation)

D’Andrea Forbish Skipwith, P. D. A. P. C. P. S. S. U. M. W. S. of P. B. (2008, March 20). Scarlet fever. U.S. Pharmacist – The
Leading Journal in Pharmacy. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/scarlet-fever