Come talk to me quick ..... Scarlett fever

[BatCrapCrazy]

DS (3) got sent home from school at lunch time today with a rash all over his core and was unbelievably sleepy. At 2.30pm, DD (4) got sent home with a temperature. By the time Dd was sent home I had already arranged doc appointment for this afternoon for DS so took DD with me aswell as doctor is a family friend and I knew she wouldn't mind taking a quick look at Dd aswell.
Doc diagnosed DS with Scarlett fever. Antibiotics prescribed but said that if he wouldn't take them, he would have to be admitted to hospital to have them given on a drip or injection. She took both DCs temps and they were both 39.5. She said that Dd probably just has a head cold.
Got home and DS took the medicine like a superstar and went to bed.
DD is becoming more and more unsettled as the evening is going on and is currently crying her eyes out saying her ear and throat hurts. I can't see anything in her ear but her throat does look sore and she's really warm. I'm worried that she has caught the Scarlett fever but doesn't have the rash. Is this possible? She absolutely refuses to take medicine as it usually makes her sick so I don't know if I should be taking her to hospital.

Ds had the rash for an hour! Scarlett fever is also known as strep throat and it's usual medication is penicillin. If your DD's allergic she can take Erythromycin or clarithromycin (I'm allergic, I can only take these). Can you pop her to the out of hours?

Just treat overnight as you would usually do for high temp, throat or earache.

Nurofen or calpol or both if she bad.

Obviously if you can't control temp etc then seek medical advice.

Are u in the UK? If you are ring 111 and they should be able to make you a gp appointment in a clinic in a hospital tonight

I had almost exactly this. DD diagnosed with scarlet fever, DS became ill very soon after. He didn't get the rash, but had the strawberry tongue. GP was happy to put him on ABs given his sister's illness.

Poor you. I do recall it went on for quite a bit with us.

Scarlet fever is caused by the same bacteria as causes strep throat and impetigo (Streptococcus A) but it is NOT the same thing. However, if your DS has scarlet fever, he may have passed the bacteria on to DD and given her strep throat and her temperature could certainly indicate that she has a bacterial infection. Sleepiness is a classic symptom of strep A infection, as is a high temperature at night which drops back down in the morning. Keep her temperature under as far as you can tonight and try to get to OOH or the hospital tomorrow if she won't take the penicillin.

That should say 'keep her temperature under control'.

Agree with others.

I caught Scarlett fever from my daughter the throat is awful.

I'd get her penicillin as well if you can.

How are things today?