Where does the streptococcus bacteria live?

Strep A bacteria normally live in your nose and mouth, and on your skin. Many people carry these microbes but don’t get sick.

How does scarlet fever spread from person to person?

Antibiotics can also help protect others from getting sick. 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. Group A strep live in the nose and throat and can easily spread to other people.

What kind of bacteria is responsible for scarlet fever?

These bacteria are facultative anaerobes, meaning that they can survive with or without oxygen. Scarlet fever bacteria produce three toxins (known as pyrogenic exotoxins), which are thought to be responsible for the symptoms of scarlet fever. Group A streptococcus is most familiar to people because it is responsible for strep throat.

Can you get scarlet fever if you have strep throat?

Scarlet fever is a bacterial illness that develops in some people who have strep throat. Also known as scarlatina, scarlet fever features a bright red rash that covers most of the body.

What causes scarlet fever in children and teenagers?

Scarlet fever, or scarlatina, is a bacterial infection that typically affects children and teenagers. It’s caused by a type of bacteria called group A Streptococcus, or group A strep. If the bacteria attack your throat, it’s called strep.

What place is scarlet fever most likely found?

It usually occurs on the chest and stomach before spreading to other areas of the body, such as the ears and neck. The symptoms of scarlet fever usually develop two to five days after infection, although the incubation period (the period between exposure to the infection and symptoms appearing) can be as short as one day or as long as seven days.

Where did scarlet fever first occur?

Klein thought he had, discovered the poison to be due to a disease of the cow. An epidemic of scarlet fever broke out in London in December, 1885, and the outbreak could be traced to the milk supplied by a herd in Hendon .

What organisms does scarlet fever infect?

Scarlet fever is essentially a bacterial infection that leads to a typical pink-red rash. It is caused by an organism Streptococcus and is seen rarely in developed countries like United Kingdom these days.

What is the treatment for scarlet fever?

Scarlet fever is treated with antibiotics, usually penicillin or azithromycin. In addition to antibiotic treatment, patients with scarlet fever and severe throat symptoms may try: Acetaminophen ( Tylenol ) or ibuprofen ( Advil , Motrin and others) to relieve pain and reduce fever.