Scarlet fever - A&E?

[Friedseasalt]

My DS has a lot of symptoms of scarlet fever. Finished antibiotics for tonsillitis last week, yesterday got a temp, croaky voice, can’t really swallow but throat spray helping, tonight he has a rash that feels like sandpaper all over his body. Have done the glass test which was fine. He’s fast asleep now, calpol has brought his temp down and he managed a bite to eat before bed. I don’t really want to wake him and take him to A&E at this time, would rather phone 111 in the morning and get an appointment at out of hours. Am I being unreasonable to wait till then? He has been fine in himself this evening apart from a little grumpy.

How old is he @Friedseasalt

@Harrysmummy246 4.

My DS had this and you need to get antibiotics asap, because it can turn really horrid. But you don't need to take him in person. If you phone they will send a prescription to the nearest pharmacy. Scarlet fever is ragingly infectious and they won't want an infectious case in the hospital. good luck there. ring 111.

What antibiotics did he have for tonsillitis?

If calpol is working, he's OK to be managed at home for now.

We were told not to go to the doctors, instead send a picture and they prescribed antibiotics.

Why would you not ring 111?

@fourelementary the bright yellow penicillin.

I think that's amoxicillin

@Tel12 he was in hosp last week and it was very distressing for him. Calpol is working okay just now so would rather he got some rest & we called in the morning?

You say he finished a course of antibiotics last week for tonsillitis - this should have covered scarlet fever too if it was a full 10 X day course of penicillin or clarithromycin.
if he’s sleeping peacefully I don’t think he needs rushed to a&e, unless he’s an infant. I think I’d let him sleep and try for an out of hours appointment tomorrow where they can do a strep A swab to confirm if it is scarlet fever (takes about 3 days to come back)

If he was treated with 10 days penicillin just last week it’s unlikely to be a new infection of strep A / scarlet fever (I only say this as going through something very similar with my 7 year old and 3 drs have told me it’s nearly impossible for it to be scarlet fever as she only finished the full course of antibiotics to treat strep A / tonsillitis a week ago.

@pambeesleyhalpert i think it was pen V. @Smartiesorskittles yes was a ten day course. Thinking maybe the rash could be viral.

As others have said- he’s already been treated for scarlet fever through the antibiotics. A and E isn’t appropriate and it’s fine to just treat with calpol and keeping his fluids up.

I'd call 111/out of hours now - as PPs have said the sooner you start antibiotics the better and they can do it over the phone and send the prescription by text now so he doesn't have to be seen in person

im in an oddly similar position to you@Friedseasalt
3 drs have all told me it’s 99.9% a viral throat infection and viral rash rather than strep A / scarlet fever having returned. One of the main things is if he got better between the tonsillitis and these new symptoms - if he did and if he finished the full 10 day course they say it’s nearly impossible for it to be strep A again.

Call tomorrow first thing, if he is sleeping now.

If any help my daughter is covered in what feels like sandpaper with a high temp but drs say it must be viral as the pen v would have cleared the strep infection

@Smartiesorskittles he really struggles with his tonsils / throat and on waiting list for ENT. Had awful strep towards the end of last year, he’s nowhere near as unwell as he was then that’s why I’m hoping it’s okay to wait until the morning, as I’m 99% sure they’ll say viral.

Poor guy and poor you -
i totally get it as we’ve had a real scare with strep a few times and she’s had scarlet fever 10 times in 7 years ☹️it’s sort of my nemesis.
but back to you! I think it’s fine to wait and see how he is tomorow and take some comfort in the fact he’s just finished a full course that should have cleared strep from his system so it is more likely to be viral. Hope you both manage some sleep 💞

My son had this and we found out he was a bit short of iron. I started making him ready brek biscuits of a weight to get him 100% RDA of his vitamins daily and he was good after that.

That’s interesting @SometimesButNotAlways just sitting here thinking my DD literally eats 0 iron rich foods (major picky eater and pretty much lives on pasta and chicken nuggets) so I think I’ll order some iron rich vitamins and try her on them to see if they make a difference as she picks up every bug going

I would let him sleep and speak to the gp tomorrow but like others have said they will probably tell you the antibiotics he had should cover him for anything now

Amoxicillin (yellow) is used to treat tonsillitis. Penicillin (red) is used to treat scarlet fever. 2 different illnesses with 2 different treatments. I know this from experience with own dc more than once

This happened to us last year. Antibiotics for what was thought to be a chest infection, which just masked the Scarlett fever (we didn't know at the time that's what it was as the rash hadn't started) As soon as we finished the course the rash came out and she was very poorly. The GP said the antibiotics for Scarlett fever are much stronger than for other infections as it's caused by strep. We had to have an emergency appointment once the rash developed and it took ages for her to get better

Sorry but disagree @Helplessandheartbroke amoxicillin is used to treat Strep A, we have been prescribed It on several occasions as Strep A is sensitive to it