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Original poster

Please reassure me about a scarlet Fever

49 replies

SandandSky · 18/12/2023 20:13

Posting here for traffic because I’m having a mini panic.

DC5 has been diagnosed with Scarlet Fever. After being told how contagious it is and none of us should be going to school/work/nursery I am terrified we will all get it over Christmas!

please tell me you had a DC with it and it was easy to manage and it was all fine

OP posts:
Original poster
SandandSky · 18/12/2023 20:17

Didn’t mean to put “a” scarlet fever. I know that’s incorrect

OP posts:
Andbreatheee · 18/12/2023 20:18

Oh please don't worry at all! My son (18 months) got it earlier this year, and he has a serious chronic medical condition. He felt a bit rubbish but honestly he was well within 7-10 days, no lasting effects, it's like a bad cold, not as awful as flu or anything! Keep calpol topped up, loose cotton clothing helped him stay comfy when he got sweaty, and lots of fluids! Deep breaths, it'll be ok :)

ColonelRhubarbBikini · 18/12/2023 20:18

Eldest DC had it when they were in year 5. I actually sent them to school that morning thinking it was just a cold and that they’d be fine once they’d seen their mates Blush

No one else got it either in the household or at school as far as I know.

DC was much better once the penicillin kicked in. The worst part was getting the liquid stuff down them. It was vile. Had to get the script changed for tablets in the end.

Do the usual protocol of not sharing cups, towels and whatnot as if it was D&V.

35965a · 18/12/2023 20:19

Most kids I know have been fine with it - unwell obviously but nothing major! I’m sure you’ll all be fine. Stock up on paracetamol and hope for the best.

LightToTheWorld · 18/12/2023 20:19

SandandSky · 18/12/2023 20:17

Didn’t mean to put “a” scarlet fever. I know that’s incorrect

My DD had it many years ago. None of us got it (didn't isolate her at all from me, she was 3) and she was fine very quickly with antibiotics.

FranticHare · 18/12/2023 20:20

DD had it when 5 - no one else did, including her baby sister. Once antibiotics kicked in she felt much better pretty quickly. Her father kept going to work, and her sister to nursery too. We were certainly never advised to isolate! Had to tell school so they could notify the relevant classes someone had Scarlet fever, that was all.

Fingers crossed!

Teentaxidriver · 18/12/2023 20:21

Both of mine had it simultaneously, mid-way through my PGCE. It was fine. The GP failed to diagnose it at first.

ShowOfHands · 18/12/2023 20:21

DD and DS both had it separately (years apart) and obviously didn't pass it on to each other or us. Both were okay once the antibiotics kicked in. Ice lollies really helped with the sore tongue.

Himawarigirl · 18/12/2023 20:24

All three of mine have had it, my youngest (4) a few weeks ago. It was not serious for any of them and once they had antibiotics they bounced back quickly and were fine in a few days overall. The doctor told us that once they have antibiotics they only remain contagious for 24 hours. With my older two no one else within the family caught it, although it was going round the reception class of one of them. With my youngest I did get sick right after he went back to school with what seemed to be tonsillitis. Apparently that is what adults tend to get when infected by the strep A bacteria. So that hasn't been fun, but I had only just recovered from another virus so my immune system was low. It's by no means a given that you'll all get it. It became clear that it was scarlet fever with my youngest on a Friday night. I called 111 on Saturday morning and they sorted me with a local appointment within a few hours so I could get him antibiotics.

Mairzydotes · 18/12/2023 20:27

The NHS guidelines is that it's compulsory for the patient to stay absent from their workplace/ school/ childcare for 24 hours after starting antibiotics. So you all don't need to stay home
My younger 2 have both had it , at different times. Nobody else at home caught it off them .
Once the antibiotics kick in , recovery is often quicker than that of a virus.

AntiHop · 18/12/2023 20:29

I had it when dd was 10 months old. I had no idea how contagious it was and carried on having very close contact with dd - kisses and cuddles, breastfeeding and co sleeping. No one else in the family caught it. I started to feel better very quickly after starting antibiotics and was well enough to work on third day.

Alwaystired23 · 18/12/2023 20:31

My eldest dc had it. He was unwell for a couple of days, but he recovered quickly with antibiotics. The rest of us were absolutely fine.

Baircasolly · 18/12/2023 20:33

My eldest had it when my youngest was only about 6 months, so I was very worried. None of the rest of us caught it, and the one who had it wasn't even too poorly with it tbh - I only took him to the GP because I found out we'd been in contact with it, and he had a bit of a sore throat and a bit of a rash.

So even if you do get unlucky and someone else catches it, you'll be on high alert, and you'd likely catch it before anyone became particularly unwell 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Mrsjayy · 18/12/2023 20:36

SandandSky · 18/12/2023 20:13

Posting here for traffic because I’m having a mini panic.

DC5 has been diagnosed with Scarlet Fever. After being told how contagious it is and none of us should be going to school/work/nursery I am terrified we will all get it over Christmas!

please tell me you had a DC with it and it was easy to manage and it was all fine

one of mine got when she was about 9/10 none of us caught it from her. antibiotics cleared it up she had a sore throat and was hot for a few days , .my mum caught in the 50s and had to .be in an isolation ward for weeks apparently so thank goodness for antibiotics eh.

I hope your dd is OK and nobody else gets ill.

Sapphire387 · 18/12/2023 21:09

It's fine. Two of my DC have had it at different points - no one ever seems to have infected anyone else in the household.

Adults tend to be more immune to the bacteria that causes it anyway- or so my doctor said.

Please try not to worry.

The only thing I will add is - with my son, after a few days he developed a non-blanching rash with it and our GP told me to take him to A&E. All was well, they just said it was part of the illness, but it's more unusual and you must get it checked out straight away if this happens (you probably know about non-blanching rashes anyway).

goodkidsmaadhouse · 18/12/2023 21:18

I caught it from DS when he had it - it was utterly miserable until I got antibiotics and then i started feeling better pretty quickly. So if you do start with symptoms just phone the GP immediately! Because we had it in the house mine was happy to write me a script without even seeing me.
The other two kids and DH didn’t catch it. And the healthy ones didn’t stay away/weren’t advised to stay away from work, school etc.

DappledThings · 18/12/2023 21:35

DC had it at 4 and 6. Was just like a mild cold. Then DC1 got it again. GP was astounded he got it twice so quickly but it was confirmed by throat swab both times. He was really only very mildly poorly. 2nd time I got the confirmation call from GP the throat swab was positive when DS was happily doing his swimming lesson as normal.

merryandbrightdelight · 18/12/2023 21:41

DD4 had it last month - we were told she could go back to school 24 hours after antibiotics had started and we could carry on as normal. Neither is or DD3 cough it and as soon as antibiotics were started she looked and felt so much better

pizzaHeart · 18/12/2023 21:43

I had it in year 6, I remember it fondly 😆I had mild temperature, a bit of rash and a bit of sore throat. Mum put me in our living room for quite a few days to separate me from others. We had only one TV and of course it was in the living room - I had lovely time.
And no one else got it.

whereareyousleep · 18/12/2023 21:50

My ds5 had it last month confirmed by swab he was really poorly for 3 days probably the most poorly I have seen him (I thought it was viral until the rash started) but within 24hrs of starting antibiotics he was much better. My 10 year old and me and DH didn't catch it. Doctor said to keep a close eye but she said they generally recover quickly on starting antibiotics. Was told to isolate from school for 24hrs but that was all.

Original poster
SandandSky · 19/12/2023 06:07

Thank you thank you thank you everyone!

I have never seen DC so poorly, it’s been horrible ☹️ but we’ve now had an ok night so fingers crossed. If any of us feel rubbish I’ll ring straight away.

you are all angels! Have a lovely Christmas all of you 💛💛💛💛

OP posts:
Wannabegreenfingers · 19/12/2023 06:32

My eldest had it when he was 4. He was very poorly, but 24 hours after starting antibiotics was much better. No one else in our house caught it including his 3 year old sister.

GreyhpundGirl · 19/12/2023 06:33

My toddler got it earlier this year. Administering the 10 day course of medicine was the worst part. She was ill (temperature) for maybe 2 days but responded quickly to the medicine. We were all fine.

Charlieradioalphapapa · 19/12/2023 06:35

DD had it in Reception. Like bad tonsillitis with an impressive rash . I remember being sat in a side room at the GP and let out a back door so we didn’t walk through the waiting room. None of the family caught it off her and none of the other kids in her class got it though. I really hope your DD is over the worst now and everyone else stays clear of it. Thank goodness with antibiotics it’s not the scary illness it was back in the day. Still awful though.

SuffolkUnicorn · 19/12/2023 06:45

Can I ask what the symptoms were please? My 8 year old has a bright red rash on his face which goes from pink to red during the day not himself runny nose has stomach and a headache on Friday Gp hasn’t seen him and prescribed emovate and said it’s viral. The cream makes his face sting I didn’t let him to go school yesterday are they allowed in with a viral rash? To me this is worse than a viral

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