Scarlet fever: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Scarlet fever: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Scarlet fever is an infectious disease,transmitted by airborne droplets. The peak incidence falls on the autumn-winter season. Clinical symptoms are pronounced. At the atypical form of the disease, a number of additional studies are required to exclude other dangerous pathologies.
Symptoms of scarlet fever
The causative agent of scarlet fever is toxigenic beta-hemolytic streptococcus, belonging to group A. The defeat of the nasopharynx causes the occurrence of local inflammatory changes.
As a rule, scarlet fever begins acutely. Body temperature rises, symptoms of general intoxication appear, worried about weakness, fever, sore throat when swallowing. One of the important symptoms of scarlet fever is the manifestation of angina. Cervical lymph nodes are enlarged and painful. The tongue is bright red and granular. Often there is vomiting. From the first day of the disease, a red or bright pink rash appears on the patient's skin, which disappears after a few days. After a week, the skin begins to peel off.
Currently, most often scarlet fever occurs in mild form. Intoxication is poorly expressed. The rash and temperature do not disturb for more than 4-5 days.
The severe form of scarlet fever is rare. With this form, the most rapid reaction of lymph nodes, necrotic angina is observed. The main danger is septic complications. Otitis, lymphadenitis, glomerulonephritis, arthritis, myocarditis, pneumonia can occur.
Diagnosis of scarlet fever
Infectionists must differentiate scarlet feverfrom rubella, measles, and clathin-like tuberculosis. The appearance of a characteristic rash on the first day, a bright red granular tongue, sore throat, sore throat, bright red cheeks and a pale nasolabial triangle is a clinical picture that makes an unmistakable diagnosis.
Treatment of scarlet fever
With a mild form of scarlet fever, the patient is not requiredhospitalization. Assign bed rest, penicillin, antihistamines. The patient needs to be isolated, since the disease belongs to the infectious.
When a severe form of scarlet fever patient is required to hospitalization in the infectious department. In addition to antibacterial therapy, haemodesis is prescribed, an intravenous infusion of glucose solution.
There is no vaccination from scarlet fever. Life-long immunity after the illness is not always acquired, so it is possible to re-illness in a mild form.
