Strep A (Scarlet fever) infection information for patients

Scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is a contagious infection that mostly affects young children. It’s easily treated with antibiotics.

Check if you have scarlet fever

The first signs of scarlet fever can be flu-like symptoms, including a high temperature, a sore throat and swollen neck glands (a large lump on the side of your neck).

A rash appears 12 to 48 hours later. It looks looks like small, raised bumps and starts on the chest and tummy, then spreads. The rash makes your skin feel rough, like sandpaper.

A red, patchy rash on the chest, neck and upper arms caused by scarlet fever. Shown on white skin.

On white skin the rash looks pink or red. It may be harder to see on brown and black skin, but you can still feel it.

A swollen tongue with reddish orange surface and a white coating at the back and along the centre. Shown on white skin.

A white coating also appears on the tongue. This peels, leaving the tongue red, swollen and covered in little bumps (called “strawberry tongue”).

Lower half of a child's face with a bright red cheek. Skin is red from their jaw up to their eye. Shown on white skin.

The rash does not appear on the face, but the cheeks can look red. The redness may be harder to see on brown and black skin.

The symptoms are the same for children and adults, although scarlet fever is less common in adults.

Non-urgent advice:See a GP if you or your child:

  • have scarlet fever symptoms
  • do not get better in a week (after seeing a GP)
  • have scarlet fever and chickenpox at the same time
  • are ill again, weeks after scarlet fever got better – this can be a sign of a complication, such as rheumatic fever
  • are feeling unwell and have been in contact with someone who has scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is very easily spread. Check with a GP before you go in. They may suggest a phone consultation.

What happens at your appointment

GPs can often diagnose scarlet fever by looking at your tongue and rash.

Sometimes they may:

  • wipe a cotton bud around the back of your throat to test for bacteria
  • arrange a blood test

Treating scarlet fever

A GP will prescribe antibiotics. These will:

  • help you get better quicker
  • reduce the chance of a serious illnesses, such as pneumonia
  • make it less likely that you’ll pass the infection on to someone else

Taking antibiotics

Keep taking the antibiotics until they’re finished, even if you feel better.

Things you can do yourself

You can relieve symptoms of scarlet fever by:

  • drinking cool fluids
  • eating soft foods if you have a sore throat
  • taking painkillers like paracetamol to bring down a high temperature (do not give aspirin to children under 16)
  • using calamine lotion or antihistamine tablets to ease itching

How long scarlet fever lasts

Scarlet fever lasts for around 1 week.

You can spread scarlet fever to other people up to 6 days before you get symptoms until 24 hours after you take your 1st dose of antibiotics.

If you do not take antibiotics, you can spread the infection for 2 to 3 weeks after your symptoms start.

Important:Important

If you or your child has scarlet fever, stay away from nursery, school or work for 24 hours after you take the 1st dose of antibiotics.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) ADVICE

Do not leave home if you or someone you live with has either a high temperature or a new, continuous cough or loss/change to sense of smell or taste.

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