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Original poster

Scarlet Fever??

17 replies

mustangsally · 04/05/2008 10:37

err, I think my 4yr old has scarlet fever. Don't know much about it but just looked up the symptoms and she's matching them all

ill, fluy, vomitting, blotchy rash, horrible breath, sore throat and thick white coating on her tongue.

What shall I do? Have snuggled her up and she's watching Shrek on settee now. Can't get through to NHS direct, am wondering whether to take her to the local walk in centre or shall I just sit it out. I don't know how serious it is really and will it just clear up on it's own.

Any advice please?

(she's had chickenpox and all her jabs so can't think of anything else it could be)

OP posts:
belgo · 04/05/2008 10:40

It could be scarlett fever, it could be just a virus. You need to see a doctor today as antibiotics should always be prescribed for scarlett fever.

copingvquietly · 04/05/2008 10:43

if it is then a throatswab/bloodtest will need to be taken.your gp will also have to inform the LHA.poor little one xx

ladytophamhatt · 04/05/2008 10:48

Ds3 had it a while ago, and had 10 day course of Anti-b's

I'd go to teh out of hours clinic today is you can.

Original poster
mustangsally · 04/05/2008 12:06

thanks all, have rang NHS direct and they said to just 'keep an eye on her', they think it sounds more like a virus than scarlett fever - we shall see...ho hum...another exciting day for me with sick 4yr old and nutter of a 15mth old!

OP posts:
Tiggiwinkle · 04/05/2008 13:27

Actually I thnk nhs direct have misinformed you on that one. My DS has had scalet fever twice in the past year. I took him to a and e the first time-it was a Saturday. They took it very seriously and gave him antibiotics, took throat swabs etc.
It is VITAL to get ABs for scarlet fever because of the seriousness of the complications. Untreated, it can cause rheumatic fever (with associated risk of heart
problems) and also kidney disease.
If you are in any doubt please take her to be seen by a doctor, whether at a and e or walk-in centre. NHS direct cannot possibly know without seeing her-and a coating on the tongue is a classic early sign, as is vomiting. There has been quite a lot of it around this year, so is quite possible that she does have it.

belgo · 04/05/2008 14:22

agree totally with tiggiwinkle. Hopefully it is just a virus, but I don't think it's worth the risk waiting.

Original poster
mustangsally · 04/05/2008 19:27

Walk in centre said I needed to ring NHS direct, they said give it a few more hours and then ring emergency doctor if I'm still worried.

Well it's now 7.30pm, she's had a big sleep and seems a lot better, rash is no worse, hardly there and tongue looks a lot better colour - so am now thinking it must have been a virus. Will keep an eye on her!

thanks for all the advice!

OP posts:
Tiggiwinkle · 04/05/2008 19:34

In scarlet fever,the white coating comes off to reveal a bright pink/red tongue with little darker bits poking through-hence the "strawberry tongue" as it is called. Look it up in images on google to get an idea! Also, the rash on the skin is rough to the touch-it feels like sandpaper.
Glad she seems a bit better!

reikizen · 04/05/2008 19:39

My dd1 recently had scarlet fever which the GP told me was a virus of course, until she got a 'strawberry tongue' which is exactly what is sounds like. Look it up on Google images as I think it is a pretty definitive sign, it appears after the white coating has gone. A swab confirmed that it was SF. Your LO will be quite poorly with SF and my dd was much more poorly than she has been with any virus (not dangerously ill, I just mean really off colour) but I gave her homeopathic remedy Belladonna along with calpol and neurofen and I think that helped tbh. She didn't have abx though as she got over it well enough without. Good luck.

Tiggiwinkle · 04/05/2008 19:46

Your doctor really should have given your DD ABs reikizen. They are to prevent the complications which can follow several weeks afterwards more than for the actual illness itself. You are normally given at least a 10 day course.

Pavlovthecat · 04/05/2008 19:50

It is my understanding that Scarlett Fever is Strep Throat that also has a rash.

Strep throat is mostly an illness you can recover from well, a viral (i think) bug which needs fluids, calpol and lots of rest, however there are rare but potentially dangerous complications from this as it puts pressure on Liver and Spleen. Not meaning to alarm as these complications are rare.

However if you think this is what it is, and symptoms do match (although can also be another kind of virus, as you can get a rash with many types of virus) its worth calling the Dr for advice (out of hours GP if you can talk to them.

For peace of mind more than anything else.

Pavlovthecat · 04/05/2008 19:51

Yes, sorry and antibiotics. Sorry, thats an important bit I missed.

noddyholder · 04/05/2008 19:55

Get anti biotics as I had post scarlet fever kidney disease and heart complications.

Tiggiwinkle · 04/05/2008 19:59

Scarlet Fever is not caused by a virus, pavlov-it is bacterial, hence the ABs. The complications are rheumatic fever with possible associated heart damage, and kidney problems. These are rare, precisely because ABs are always given for scarlet fever (or should be!)

Tiggiwinkle · 04/05/2008 20:00

Sorry noddy-cross posted cos I took so long to post!

Pavlovthecat · 04/05/2008 20:24

Yes, I realised that once I had written it. Hence the ABs, I got myself confused.

Best pay absolutely no attention to what I say ok?

belgo · 05/05/2008 08:19

How is she today musttangsally?

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