Definition

Scarlet fever is an infection caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus (pronounced strep-tuh-KOK-us). The disease is characterized by a sore throat (see sore throat entry), fever, and a sandpaper-like rash on reddened skin. It is primarily a childhood disease. If scarlet fever is not treated, serious complications, including rheumatic fever (a heart disease; see rheumatic fever entry) and inflammation of the kidney, can result.

Description

Scarlet fever gets its name from the appearance of the patient's skin, especially around the cheeks, which becomes red and flushed. Scarlet fever is accompanied by a sore throat, fever, sluggishness, and a raised rash over much of the body.

The fever that accompanies scarlet fever usually lasts only a few days. By the end of two weeks, the disease has usually run its course. At that point, skin begins to peel off. The most dramatic peeling occurs on the...