There are many characteristic symptoms of scarlet fever. Some of the most common ones are:
The rash of scarlet fever is quite characteristic. It starts on the chest or trunk of the body and then spreads to the limbs. The rash can cause deep red lines in areas where the skin crinkles but usually appears as a red patch. Sometimes there is even an appearance of red dots called petechiae. These dots can also appear on the inside of the mouth. After about two to four days the rash may start to fade. At this point, the skin starts to peel off.
In a day or two of getting the infection, the white coating on the tongue also comes off. The tongue now is a bright red, often called “red strawberry tongue”.
Children between the ages of 3 and 5 tend to be more susceptible to scarlet fever. Even today, the world over, about 5 children succumb to scarlet fever infection. Usually children, as they grow up, develop natural resistance to the bacteria that causes scarlet fever.
There is little risk of pregnant women catching this infection. But it helps to take preventive steps to prevent infection. It is important to be aware of the infection triggers and dangers.