Any medics about - Scarlet Fever, 111 wait times...

[BewareTheBeardedDragon]

I'm suspect ds has scarlet fever, he had a high temperature for 3 days, developed red rash over torso and arms Friday evening, although temp came down yesterday still glassy eyed and lethargic, white followed by red tongue and white patches on tonsils.

Called 111 yesterday morning early, had callback 4pm from someone who said 'it could be strep' but they couldn't prescribe so I had to wait another 6 hrs from someone who might prescribe antibiotics. No call since but another text saying they're so busy and can't meet waiting times. I assume they will call at some point today (hopefully).

In the meantime ds twin has developed a temp and glassy eyes. Dd had 1 day of temp earlier in the week but no other symptoms.

The twins have a school event on Tuesday afternoon they are desperate to attend.
We are due to have Xmas next weekend with my elderly parents.

From what I've read online (NHS website) if strep is not treated with antibiotics the patient continues to be infectious for 2-3 wks after they recover.

Questions for any medics who happen to be around and willing/able to answer:

• If ds feels better today when they call will they still give antibiotics to stop him spreading it around?
• Will they give some for his twin who is now obv coming down with same thing or will I need to call again and restart the interminable wait times for twin separately?
• Will they give antibiotics for dd, assuming since she is in same house and unwell at same time as ds she must have had it but fought it better - to stop her spreading it around?
• If they don't give all dc antibiotics should they not go to school and/or not do Xmas at grandparents, to avoid potentially spreading it to vulnerable people?

I'm feeling a bit frustrated, because assuming their info about continued infectiousness is right then surely promptly giving antibiotics will prevent a whole raft of new cases being created and further overwhelming the 111 service?

Keep the kids all off school now.

Call your GP in the morning - one of mine has scarlet fever and we had a phone appointment with the GP and antibiotics prescribed within the hour.

So this is all about your social plans? No wonder 111 is fucked.

Honesty there's a shortage of antibiotics and a shortage of medical staff, I would plan to miss the rest of the school term and if you don't hear anything back from 111 call the GP in the morning. No one can tell you when they'll phone back, if they'll prescribe for all siblings just in case or whether they'll be feeling better by Tuesday. Generally the guidance is 24 hours after starting antibiotics children are less infectious, but before Christmas and knowing some children can get very poorly with it sounds selfish to go in to be honest.

Ill children should be kept home from school, and away from social events (including with grandparents); Christmas or not Christmas. It's really not complicated.

It's incredibly selfish to even consider putting other children and people at risk. You can prevent a ''whole raft of new cases being created and further overwhelming the 111 service'' by staying at home.

@3girlsunder3 no, you’re not remembering correctly. It’s 24 hours after receiving antibiotics.

Antibiotics stop the spread of infection but the most important reason for taking them is to reduce the risk of long term complications. If your child has scarlet fever, they need antibiotics and you should be doing everything in your power to get them.

They will give you antibiotics straight away! There is no other treatment for scarlet fever. After 24 hours or 2 days of antibiotics you can go back to school, but they won't want to as the rash is very itchy and horrible .

If they have scarlet fever you HAVE to have antibiotics as you will get complications from it. It's highly contagious too.

Few years ago, dd was diagnosed with scarlet fever. DS was about 4 days ahead on symptoms - and I didn't realize what it was. He had 48hrs off school for vomiting, and threw a rash a day after going back. That's normal for him. I took ddfie the rash - because it's unusual for her GP unconcerned about him, he was back at school. Don't think anyone else in either class got it.

It never fails to amaze me how selfish some parents are. Ds is much better today and in theory could go back to school tomorrow. I won't send him though because he is coughing terribly and it's not fair to other children, teachers and families. On Friday night I thought ds might end up in hospital. I wish people would keep their dc home when ill. Ds is on 70% attendance this term thanks to 4 bouts of illness. The playground is full of coughs and sneezes and children who shouldn't be in but then we have a headteacher who this week in the newsletter thanked everyone for battling on through the various bugs and getting into school. Employers are often to blame too by not supporting parents to take time off to care for ill dc. It's shit and I'd hoped after covid things would improve on the whole death before absence shit.

Jeez, it's not all about my social plans, I've kept them home and done the right thing calling 111. I posted wanting clarification on the info I've read online because I DONT want to put others at risk, and I was getting increasingly anxious having waited so long and still not been able to ask a doctor these questions.
Nowhere have I said I would take the dc anywhere against medical advice. Obv if I don't get a callback I won't send any of them to school, even though dd is better, in case she may still be infectious.

Despite what pp have said the official advice online is you can return to work/school/nursery 24hrs after first dose of antibiotic (assuming otherwise well). I don't know why gov/NHS would say that if it's isn't true.

I went to ooh gp this afternoon who said I shouldn't have come and I just have to wait for 111 to call back. So we are home again, waiting patiently, and I will call regular GP first thing tomorrow.

Asking questions and asking for advice doesn't make you a bad selfish person. Stating that if possible and safe you'd like dc to go to event they really want to go to isn't selfish. Wanting to be able to safely see my parents for Xmas isn't selfish. If I'd said I'll send them to event or go places regardless, that would be selfish, but I didn't say that. Making people feel stupid or bad for asking advice is deeply unhelpful.

I got why you were asking OP - and agree if the DC get antibiotics and are well enough then advice is they aren’t infectious after 24 hours so agree you’d be fine to send them in and to events they are looking forwards to. Hope you manage to get an appointment at the GP and can get some antibiotics for them tomorrow.

Agree with you OP and understand exactly what and why you're asking. Hopefully you'll get abx for all and be better and not infectious in a couple of days.

I’m sorry you got sent away from OOH. How ridiculous, given you were all stood there.

I totally get you OP and am in a similar situation. My LG had Scarlet Fever last Friday...And suspect LB came down with it this Friday/Saturday, with fever, headache, sore throat, unusual tounge and then rash appearing yest afternoon. I still have some amoxicillin from my LG so have given him this for last 24hrs which has perked him up. Decided not to bother with 111 or ooh over weekend, and call GP first thing for some further antibiotics...although at the moment other than rash on tongue/body my LB is fairly well, so wondering if they will even prescribe it?! I too am wondering though, if they don't will he then stay infectious?! I can't and won't be keeping him locked away for the run up to Xmas and beyond.