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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

Oh bu**er - nephew has just been diagnosed with scarlet fever and I looked after him all day yesterday!!!!

36 replies

JonesTheSteam · 21/12/2006 12:58

Does anyone have any experience of scarlet fever?

What are the chances of me and the DC's getting it?

Am supposed to be going up to stay in MIL's over Christmas and having Christmas dinner with SIL and family, including two children.

Should I still go?

TIA

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LIZS · 21/12/2006 13:11

It is quite contagious I'm afraid , same bacterial strain causes Strep throat which appears as a throat infection with high temp and vomiting and is probably more common than scarlet fever itself.

LRWG · 21/12/2006 13:26

Sorry - highly contagious. I had it when I was 28 and the doctor said I could have caught it just by walking past someone in the supermarket. It is a notifiable disease (at least it was when I had it five years ago) and I was quarantined at home for five days, not even allowed to answer the door to anyone. But anti-biotics really worked so at the first sign get off to the doctors.

The good news, if there can be any, is that 99% of adults are naturally immune to it - I'm just wierd (doctor's words, not mine) - so hopefully it'll pass you by. Did your DC come into direct contact with your nephew or were they at school. If they didn't see him directly, you cannot pass it on to them unless you have it yourself (hope that makes sense).

Anyway, hope this has been of some help. Let me know if you have any more questions.

JonesTheSteam · 21/12/2006 13:29

Thanks for your replies.

LRWG - My DS was here all afternoon with my nephew. DD was here for about an hour and a half with him. He was very sleepy after picking her up from school and I cuddled him for about 45 mins on my lap (whilst MNing )

Do you know what the incubation period is? Am worried sick now that my DS will come down with it on Christmas Day.

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LRWG · 21/12/2006 13:31

Sorry - don't know the incubation period - haven't got a clue where I caught it.

LIZS · 21/12/2006 13:32

this suggests 2 - 4 days , sorry

JonesTheSteam · 21/12/2006 13:32

Thanks anyway - am off to google it.

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JonesTheSteam · 21/12/2006 13:32

Oops cross posts!!!

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JonesTheSteam · 21/12/2006 13:34

Do you think I should cancel trip to SIL's.

Am gutted!!!!

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LRWG · 21/12/2006 13:35

I'm really really sorry, but I just Googled it and it's 1-4days!

Here's the info

LRWG · 21/12/2006 13:36

Why don't you give your GP or NHS Direct a call? Then, when armed with info, call you SIL and explain the situation and see what she says. Then, if she says go and her kids do get it, it was her decision and you need feel no guilt.

JonesTheSteam · 21/12/2006 13:37

That's a very good idea - thanks LRWG.

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LIZS · 21/12/2006 13:37

You don't know for sure they will catch either that or strep throat . If they get it say tomorrow they should not be contagious after 48hrs of ab's. Can you call her and discuss ?

LRWG · 21/12/2006 13:38

Good luck - hope you're all clear! Am off to wake sick baby andtake her to the supermarket for Christmas shopping in the fog! Oh, the joys of my life

LazycowLyinginaManger · 21/12/2006 13:56

Also you may want to get the doctor to prescribe some antibiotics in case symptoms develop in the children over the Christmas period. That way you can give the antibiotics without having to worry about getting hold of a doctor during the holidays.

expatinscotland · 21/12/2006 13:57

I had scarlet fever as a child. It has a really short incubation period and ran rampant through our school one year.

JonesTheSteam · 21/12/2006 14:05

Will GP's give out antibiotics without actually having to diagnose anything?

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expatinscotland · 21/12/2006 14:07

Hmmm. Like prophylactic anti-biotics?

Some surgeries will.

The worst bit about it is that the temp goes SO high w/scarlet fever.

JonesTheSteam · 21/12/2006 14:08

Are out-of-hours doctors working over the Christmas period, generally?

Our surgery can't even be bothered to answer the phone just now!!!!

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expatinscotland · 21/12/2006 14:09

NHS Direct is what's in operation at our surgery over the holidays. They might be able to get you an appointment.

LazycowLyinginaManger · 21/12/2006 14:11

I have had the GP give me antibiotics just in case for a holiday period - once when I has a slight sore throat and I was about to go on a long flight and once when ds seemed a bit off colour and had very slightly pink ears on a Friday before a bank holiday. On one occasion I didn't need to use them (for ds) on the other I did (my throat got much worse). I think it depends on the GP. It can't hurt to ask - you probably won't need them but if it were me it would give me a bit more peace of mind to have them.

LIZS · 21/12/2006 14:12

Make a note of the number of your nearest walk-in clinic, then you can call ahead if you need to go and they could keep your children separate on arrival if need be.

JonesTheSteam · 21/12/2006 14:17

Right - have spoken to a GP.

He says it's an incubation period of 24-48 hours.

Out-of-hours services are in operation over the Christmas period.

Won't give AB's 'just-in-case'.

Not definite that they'll get it.

Still don't know what to do about my SIL - MIL thinks it's best we don't go up, although that was when I said the incubation period was 1-4 days. So theoretically if mine were going to get it it would be tomorrow or Saturday at the very latest.

If we don't go up, as far as I'm concerned my Christmas is ruined. Love spending time at my MIL's / SIL's. All get on so well, and all the grandchildren get on so well. We're all looking forward to it so much.

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LazycowLyinginaManger · 21/12/2006 14:34

But surely the shorter incubation period is a plus? Your nephew was with you yesterday afternoon. If the incubation period is 48 hrs max, your any symptoms should start showing up by the end of Friday. If no-one is ill by the end of Friday you can safely assume you got lucky and and can happily mix with other children. Obviously if one of you gets ill then that is different.

If the incubation period was up to 4 days you would have had to wait until Christmas eve to see if anyone had been infected which.

I'm not sure about Scarlett fever but for many illnesses they are contagious in the incubation period anyway not just when the symptoms appear.

StrawberrySnowflakes · 21/12/2006 14:37

dd has scarletina(the milder form of scarlet fever) and doc never told me to keep her in?
and i went there with two mindees in tow!
saying that maybe scarletina isnt quite as contagious?..as i was told you could only eally catch it from passing fluids such as kissing(fro the doc?)

JonesTheSteam · 21/12/2006 14:39

No I agree - but it's not up to me - will have to wait for SIL to see what she thinks.

She's very practical, so hopefully we will be ok.

I'm already ill with tonsillitis (actually feeling guilty that maybe my nephew caught this because of my sore throat!!!!) but have been on AB's since last Friday.

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