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Scarlet fever - Treatment

Alternative Names

Scarlatina

Treatment:

Antibiotics are used to kill the bacteria that causes the throat infection. This is crucial to prevent rheumatic fever, a serious complication of strep throat and scarlet fever.

Expectations (prognosis):

With proper antibiotic treatment, the symptoms of scarlet fever should get better quickly. However, the rash can last for up to 2 - 3 weeks before it fully goes away.

Complications:

Complications are rare with the right treatment, but can include:

Acute rheumatic fever
Bone or joint problems (osteomyelitis or arthritis)
Ear infection (otitis media)
Inflammation of a gland (adenitis) or abscess
Kidney damage (glomerulonephritis)
Liver damage (hepatitis)
Meningitis
Pneumonia
Sinusitis

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if:

You develop symptoms of scarlet fever
Your symptoms do not go away 24 hours after beginning antibiotic treatment
You develop new symptoms

Signs of scarlet fever

Normal lungs and alveoli

Reviewed last on: 5/9/2010
Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Bisno AL, Stevens DL. Streptococcus pyogenes. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2009:chap 198.

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