Scarlet fever is a bacterial disease caused by streptococcus family. Streptococcus pyogenes is an infectious agent in this disease. This bacteria produces streptococcal pyrogenic endotoxins SPEs that causes red rash and high fever. Common symptoms seen in patients suffering from scarlet fever are swollen tonsils, high fever, red folding in arms and elbows. Scarlet fever mostly occurs in children and sometimes it also effects adults. Scarlet fever is mostly treated as self-limited. Antibiotics like penicillin (oral), amoxicillin (oral), benzathine penicillin G (intramuscular) and for individuals with penicillin allergies cephalexin (oral) cephalosporin, lowers the severity and complexity of this disease. No vaccine is available against scarlet fever. Some vaccines are under clinical trials. In past decades, mortality rate due to scarlet fever was 10-25 percent but now it is reduced to 1% due to antibiotics. Diagnosis is done by throat swab specimen detection and antigen screening method. Antibiotics are used to treat scarlet fever.
Keywords: - Scarlet fever,
Streptococcus pyogenes, high fever, endotoxins, antibiotics