signs of scarlet fever - 11 year old with rash and no fever ??

Question

My daughter has, during the past hour, begun breaking out with little red bumps on her torso and the back of her legs. I just ran an "Aveeno" bath for her and she is still itching. One of my co-workers' children was just diagnosed with scarlet fever but I am pretty sure she said he had a fever along with the rash. Obviously I will call doctor if rash becomes severely worse or if fever does begin but I am just wondering what to look for (and what to do) to know if these are scarlet fever signs or not???

Thank you so very much to all who have responded -- each one of you has been very helpful :-)

Answer 1

What is scarlet fever?

Scarlet fever is a term used for strep throat with a rash. Strep throat is a throat infection caused by a type of streptococcal bacteria.

What causes scarlet fever?

Scarlet fever is caused by streptococcal (strep) bacteria, the same bacteria that cause strep throat. There are many different strains of strep bacteria, some of which cause more serious illness than others. The type of strep that infects the throat and causes scarlet fever is called group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABS).

What are the symptoms of scarlet fever?

Symptoms that may occur before the rash include:

Fever of 101° (38.33°) or higher.
Sore throat and difficulty swallowing.
White or yellow spots or coating on the throat and tonsils.
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
Other symptoms, especially in children, may include general body aches, headache, stomachache, nausea, vomiting, or listlessness. Scarlet fever usually doesn't occur with cold symptoms, such as sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, or cough.

Answer 2

I remember as a child having a similar rash but I seem to recall I also had no fever. My doctor diagnosed it as a mild form of scarlet fever called "scarlettina" no considering this was at least 30 years ago I don't know if this is still a true name of a mild scarlett fever or not. But I hope it helps in some way.
Perhaps some benidryl either internal or external may help?

Answer 3

With scarlet fever there is a fever and painful sore throat. The throat would be inflamed and there would be a rash all over the body. If there is an itching rash with no fever or sore throat, it sounds more like an allergic rash. Still, call your doctor and let the doctor know that your child has been exposed to scarlet fever.

Answer 4

The rash is the most striking sign of scarlet fever. It usually begins looking like a bad sunburn with tiny bumps and it may itch. The rash usually appears first on the neck and face, often leaving a clear unaffected area around the mouth. It spreads to the chest and back, then to the rest of the body. In body creases, especially around the underarms and elbows, the rash forms classic red streaks. Areas of rash usually turn white when you press on them. By the sixth day of the infection the rash usually fades, but the affected skin may begin to peel.

Aside from the rash, there are usually other symptoms that help to confirm a diagnosis of scarlet fever, including a reddened sore throat, a fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius), and swollen glands in the neck. The tonsils and back of the throat may be covered with a whitish coating, or appear red, swollen, and dotted with whitish or yellowish specks of pus. Early in the infection, the tongue may have a whitish or yellowish coating. A child with scarlet fever also may have chills, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.

Answer 5

Go to Wikipedia and look up Fifths Disease. Had never heard of it until my eleven year old nephew had it. Hope this is all it is. If not mistaken Scarlet Fever rash is sore does not itch.

Answer 6

This could be a mild VIRAL infection- have seen it a lot in Michigan last 3 months. No fever, very small red bumps covering different sections of the body. All in pediatric Patients. If it gets worse you could go to an urgents care or see your doctor if they are around this weekend.-Good luck!