What caused the scarlet fever epidemic?

Bacteria called group A Streptococcus or group A strep cause scarlet fever. The bacteria sometimes make a poison (toxin), which causes a rash — the “scarlet” of scarlet fever.

How did the scarlet fever start?

Scarlet fever is caused by the same type of bacteria that cause strep throat. In scarlet fever, the bacteria release a toxin that produces the rash and red tongue. The infection spreads from person to person via droplets expelled when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

What was the scarlet fever epidemic?

Scarlet fever was common and occurred as epidemics in the 1800s. The death rate from Scarlet fever then was as high as 150/100,000. These days with available antibiotics the severity of the infection has reduced dramatically. There has been a marked reduction in the incidence of Scarlet fever over the last 10 years.

How many times can you catch scarlet fever?

The symptoms of scarlet fever will only develop in people susceptible to toxins produced by the streptococcus bacteria. Most children over 10 years of age will have developed immunity to these toxins. It’s possible to catch scarlet fever more than once, but this is rare.

How many cases of scarlet fever have there been?

Since 1999, a total of 9,400 cases of scarlet fever have been reported in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 300 cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) and 600 cases of necrotizing fasciitis have been reported during this period.

Who is the causative organism of scarlet fever?

The causative organism, S pyogenes, is classified as a Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) infection.

When did the scarlet fever epidemic start in New York?

Your doctor will typically treat scarlet fever with antibiotics. One of the biggest typhoid fever epidemics of all time broke out between 1906 and 1907 in New York. Mary Mallon, often referred to as “Typhoid Mary,” spread the virus to about 122 New Yorkers during her time as a cook on an estate and in a hospital unit.

What does a scarlet fever rash look like?

The rash resembles sunburn and feels like sandpaper; desquamation of the skin on the trunk, face, and fingertips occurs during convalescence.

What is the fatality rate for scarlet fever?

Untreated scarlet fever has a worse prognosis and before the use of antibiotics, scarlet fever had a mortality (death) rate of about 15%-20%. Currently, the mortality rate is less than 1% because of early recognition and early treatment with antibiotics.

What is the most deadly epidemic?

The Great Flu Epidemic has been recorded as the most devastating epidemic in history. With a death toll of somewhere between 20 million and 40 million, this disease killed more people than WWI.

What was the first epidemic in history?

In 430 B.C., the Greek historian Thucydides wrote about the first epidemic in recorded history. Known as the Plague of Athens, the disease ravaged the city, killing a third of the population. Modern scholars suspect typhus was the culprit. These days, typhus still causes some deaths, but it is generally under control thanks to vaccinations.

Is scarlet fever an epidemic?

Scarlet fever has afflicted mankind since the 1500s. In the United States it appeared in epidemic proportion in New England in the early 18th century. In Boston and New Hampshire whole families became sickened, and sometimes most of their members died. Scarlet fever affects the kidneys…