scarlet fever

[cedmonds]

Hi my Ds has just be diagonsed with scarlet fever he is ok in himself but got a rash and the strawberry tounge. Has anyones dc had this to give me any ideas.
Thanks

[DaftApeth]

Dd was so ill with scarlet fever. She didn't wake up for more than 20mins at a time for days, had a Minnie mouse voice for months after, and picked up any bugs around for the next 9 months or so.

Two other children who had it at different times, had it much more mildly and with no long term affects.

The big thing for dd was trying to get the antibiotics down and to stay down as well as keeping her hydrated.

Her hair was a complete birds nest for weeks because her neck was too sore from swollen glands to be able to brush her hair

[cedmonds]

Hi Thanks
He dosn't seem that bad today he had a horrid high temp yesterday. Today he is eating a playing as mormal so hopefully he will have a mild case of it.

[DaftApeth]

It does sound as though it is much more mild. Dd was already really poorly before the rash arrived.

Fingers crossed it is short lived

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Both of mine had this and they both remember the terribly terribly sore throat. DS had it worse as DD was diagnosed with the onset of it, when he was diagnosed with it full blown.

The antibiotics will kill the infection within 48 hours and then its a matter of getting well again. Lots of drinks, lots of sleep, DaftApeth - I remember too the birds' nest hair.

It's a notifiable disease to the HPA so your GP, nursery or school should be phoning the authority to warn them that it's in town as it were.

Hope he's better soon

[MummyTubb]

Hope he's better soon. Antibiotics should knock the infection on the head, but (very rarely) some children can develop complications so keep a close eye on him and go back to your doctor if you have any concerns. Particularly if his temperature continues to fluctuate as it means the antibiotics are not killing off the Strep bacteria.

I say this because DD has just had scarlet fever (during half term). Never one to do things by halves, she then developed pneumonia which caused a collapsed lung. (Symptoms were temp continuing to spike even after 4 days of antibiotics, eating nothing, rapid breathing, and hideous cough). We spent 9 days in hospital as she had to have surgery to remove pus and fluid from her chest cavity. Very scary indeed. She's only 4. We've now been out of hospital for a week now and she's going back to school (for mornings only) on Monday. Still another week of oral antibiotics to go (she had 9 days of IV antibiotics in hospital too). It's been a long tough 4 weeks, but hopefully we can see the light at the end of the tunnel now.

Finally, be prepared for his skin to peel (a bit like sunburn) when the rash fades.

[WomblingWriggles]

It can be very serious, but just wanted to post a more positive story. dd had scarlet fever, she was ill for a few days but once the antibiotics were started she bounced back into action almost immediately. We were very lucky and were watching out for it so caught it early.

[cedmonds]

HI
Thanks he has a weekness to getting pneumonia so already been told watch out for that. The rash dosn't seem to bad at the moment but he is worse than he was yesterday and is coughing and has ery sore throat. I think it was caught just in the start of it as he had no rash just the strawberry tounge, and high temps. He is playing quietly at the moment but has had calpol and nurofen so i think thats making him feel better.

[hermioneweasley]

Cedmonds, i assume he's been prescribed some antibotics? it is nasty and takes a while to go. hope he feels better soon.

[cedmonds]

Yeah he has got a 10 day course he had three doses yeasterday and one so far today. I always thought the rash was really bad though and his isn't or is there worse to come?

[Karoleann]

Both mine picked it up from nursery last year although DS1 had scarletina rather than the full blown thing.
DS2 was only poorly for 3 days - antibiotics seemed to work very quickly. We obviously kept a close eye on him especially since he developed pneumonia from chicken pox the previous year.
DH and I had horrible throat infection from it.