Scarlet fever (scarlatina)

Scarlet fever (scarlatina) is an infectious disease that usually occurs in children 4 to 7 years. The infection is transmitted by a bacterial genus of family called Streptococci by droplet infection. The causative agent of scarlatina usually penetrate through the mouth and nose area, less than a skin wounds. The disease is highly contagious and can occur even in adulthood. Unlike other childhood diseases can occur several times a scarlatina. Use of penicillin, the disease is well controlled.

Infection

The infection is by droplet infection in scarlet fever, transmission of pathogens through the air, which is usually by coughing or sneezing of already ill conditioned. In addition, objects can also transfer scarlatina. Since the disease most commonly aged between four and seven years occurs, the infection usually takes place in the kindergarten or school. The incubation period between infection and onset of the symptoms of scarlet fever is usually two to four, maximum of eight days. Even people who are immune to the pathogen and not themselves become ill with scarlatina, can pass the disease through droplet infection.

Cause

The cause of scarlet fever streptococcus bacteria, which occur in different subspecies. Streptococci are bacteria that carry about 10-20 % of the population are without disease symptoms show up. They develop by viruses (bacteriophages) that multiply in bacteria, a toxin (poison) that causes the typical symptoms of scarlatina. At the outbreak of scarlet fever is a life-long immunity developed against the causative pathogen species, other infections can also occur by other subgroups.

Symptoms

Symptoms of scarlet fever are sudden high fever and sore throat. A typical signs of scarlatina is a red tongue, the so-called "strawberry tongue". On the body there are small red spots form in the size of pin heads, the typical so-called "scarlet fever rash". Further signs of scarlatina are nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, and inflammation of the tonsils. Because usually affects children who can not interpret the signs themselves, is an observation of the child - especially with other affected children in kindergarten and school - very important.

Course

The clinical course of scarlet fever usually lasting one week. Often, a diseased child with scarlatina, if it feels good, one day after the start of antibiotic therapy to go back to kindergarten or school. Many facilities require a certificate before readmission. After the subsidence of the symptoms of scarlet fever, the risk of infection with drug treatment is over. The treatment of scarlatina to be carried out vigorously in order to prevent the development of resistance of the virus. If untreated, scarlet fever in the worst case, take a so-called toxic course. It can separate from the bacterial toxin effects such as nausea and vomiting as well as a heart muscle inflammation condition. If the infection via the blood in the whole blood, is called a septic course. Its consequences can be a meningitis or a suppuration of the sinuses.

Therapy of scarlet fever

Streptococci respond well to the antibiotic penicillin. Treatment with penicillin should be performed about ten days. With a scarlatina should be suspected in any case, a doctor visit. The course of scarlatina is reduced with an early start of antibiotic therapy and the risk of infection posed by the patients, stopped in a short time.

Late effects

As a result of diseases of scarlet fever may occur with inadequate antibiotic treatment, so-called streptococcal Nacherkrankungen. These include rheumatic fever, glomerulonephritis, a kidney infection, which is among the most common causes of kidney failure, and - in rare cases - the toxic shock syndrome, a severe circulatory and organ failure.

Distribution

Every year about 50,000 people in Germany fall ill with scarlatina. Most of scarlet fever disease occur in children of preschool and school age. Infants infected due to the sustaining of the parent antibody rare. Not all people infected with streptococcal disease. The rate of so-called asymptomatic germ carriers is estimated to be about 20 %. Only in Brandenburg, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony scarlatina is generally reportable. In these states, the scarlatina to the health department reported. The disease is most common in the winter months when bear 20-30 % of the population streptococcal disease in itself.

Prevention

There is no vaccination against scarlet fever does not exist. After the infection of scarlatina sufferers, although against the causative streptococcal species is immune, but not against other bacteria subgroups. Some individuals make so-called "scarlet careers with". To prevent the contamination of other children or adults, should the child be kept away from scarlet fever others. A preventive treatment of persons in close contact with sick with scarlatina, persons, is possible with penicillin. These so-called exposure prophylaxis can possibly be especially useful for teachers in nursery schools or teachers.

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