Scarlet fever or eczema?

[MustBeCrazyMama]

Have also posted in "Children's Health".

Hi all, I'm just wondering if for those who's children have had scarlet fever, do you think this is it? My DD had a high temp of 39c, swollen neck glands and generally unwell last Thurs/Fri/Sat. She woke up yesterday morning with absolutely no sign of a rash - only her patches of eczema as she's having an awful outbreak of it right now. She came home from school and a rash had appeared over her back, chest, stomach and arms. I already had a doctor's appointment booked for her yesterday evening to something unrelated, but I did query scarlet fever with the doctor. I was dismissed straight away and told its definitely eczema although it was confirmed her throat was a bit red. Rash has continued to spread and today now she also has it over her legs. Her brother was sent home school yesterday with the exact same symptoms she'd had - 39.5c temp, sore throat, headache and generally unwell. So I'm wondering if it potentially is scarlet fever or maybe it is eczema (although she's suffered from it since a baby and I've never seen this rash on her before).

If it feels scratchy, possibly scarlet fever. If not scratchy, possibly eczema.

Is there a coating on his tongue?

my ds has scarlet fever atm. Rash all over him.

take her to see someone face-to-face

Scarlet fever is serious. Why haven’t you taken them to A&E? It can very quickly take the very next step to sepsis or meningitis.

Why the hell did you send her to school with a fever of 39, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes?!

Please take your kids to A&E

I’m really worried for yours kids. A current rash and temp etc

also trust your gut

It is ten days of penicillin. Not in school until 24 hours after first dose. Go to a&e.

The rash definitely feels like sandpaper but DS had a more extensive rash than that (less areas of normal
skin). When DS had it the rash appeared in different places in different days. We took him to GP who swabbed his throat. Swab came back negative but by that point he had classic strawberry tongue so was definitely scarlet fever. Tbh I knew it was scarlet fever anyway (gut feeling) but had to really persuade the healthcare professional after the negative swab.
He also had swollen nodes, puffy face and if you shone a torch in his mouth you could see petchae (little red blood spots). If they get the strawberry tongue you know for definite it’s scarlet fever (could also rarely be Kawasaki disease but then they’d definitely be in an and e as would be very unwell).

The important thing to remember about scarlet fever is that it doesn’t always have all the symptoms. It is possible to have it with no rash or no sore throat or with a lower fever. Do not wait for more symptoms.