What are the symptoms of scarlet fever? Different in each period

Scarlet fever is a common respiratory infectious disease. The incubation period of this disease is generally about two to five days. It can be divided into three periods: incubation period, early stage, and rash period. The symptoms of each period are quite different.

Scarlet fever is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by group A beta (β) hemolytic streptococci. Its clinical features are fever, pharyngitis, diffuse scarlet rash and post-eruptive desquamation. A small number of patients may develop allergic heart, kidney, and joint complications after the illness. Scarlet fever occurs all year round, but is more common in winter and spring and less common in summer and autumn. It is more common in children, especially those aged 3-7 years. A small number of children may develop rheumatic fever or acute glomerulonephritis 2-3 weeks after the onset of the disease. When children go to kindergarten or elementary school and live in groups, they should be especially aware that scarlet fever is contagious because the bacteria can be easily spread in these environments.

The incubation period of scarlet fever is 2-5 days, and the onset is acute. Children with the disease will suddenly develop symptoms such as high fever, sore throat, nausea, severe headache, etc. Scarlet fever symptoms vary at different stages of the disease as the disease progresses:

1. The incubation period of scarlet fever is usually 2-3 days, the shortest is 1 day and the longest is 5-6 days. The incubation period of surgical scarlet fever is relatively short, generally 1-2 days.

2. Prodromal symptoms of scarlet fever: The prodromal period is from onset to rash, which generally does not exceed 24 hours, and in a few cases may last up to 2 days. The onset is usually acute. When the local bacteria multiply to a certain number and produce enough exotoxins, symptoms will appear, including chills, high fever accompanied by headache, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, etc. The child is fussy or has seizures at the onset of the illness. Pharyngeal inflammation may be seen during examination. In mild cases, only the pharynx or tonsils are congested. In severe cases, there are purulent exudates and punctate or hemorrhagic rashes in the pharynx and soft palate, or pseudomembrane formation may be seen. Cervical and submandibular lymph nodes are swollen and tender.

3. Symptoms of scarlet fever during the rash stage: The rash usually appears 1-2 days after onset. The rash starts behind the ears, neck and upper chest, then quickly spreads to the trunk and upper limbs, and finally to the lower limbs.