Health / Scarlet fever cases reported in schools
SOME Shetland school pupils have been diagnosed with suspected or confirmed scarlet fever, the council says.
Scarlet fever is a contagious infection caused by a bacteria group called streptococcus – also known as strep A – that mostly affects young children, and it is easily treated with antibiotics.
However there has been a rise in cases reported in the UK recently.
Director of children’s services Helen Budge said: “We are working closely with NHS Shetland’s public health team and have contacted parents and carers to make them aware.
“We’ve shared the advice around symptoms, how to contact the appropriate health services, and the need to stay at home to avoid spreading infection, and will continue to monitor the situation.”
NHS Shetland’s public health principal Elizabeth Robinson said on Thursday that it was “extremely rare” that people develop the invasive version of strep A, which is more serious.
Scarlet fever causes the following symptoms: headache, sore throat, high temperature and raised pink/purple spots that join up to produce a skin rash, which feels like sandpaper to the touch.
NHS Shetland issued advice on scarlet fever, as well as other winter illnesses, this week. More information can be found on the NHS Inform website.
Robinson said the national rise in infections caused by bacteria called Group A Strep (GAS) across the UK, particularly scarlet fever in children, may be down to social distancing measures no longer being in place.
She added: “Scarlet fever used to be a very serious illness, but nowadays most cases tend to be mild. However there is a small risk of the infection spreading to other parts of the body and causing more serious infections.”
Scarlet fever usually affects children under the age of ten and it is rare to get it more than once. The initial symptoms of scarlet fever usually include a sore throat, headache and a high temperature (38.3C/101F or above), flushed cheeks and a swollen tongue.
A day or two later the characteristic pinkish rash appears. It usually occurs on the chest and stomach before spreading to other areas of the body, such as the ears and neck.
The rash feels like sandpaper to touch and it may be itchy. On darker skin the rash may be more difficult to see although its rough texture should be apparent.
The infection is spread from person to person by breathing in airborne droplets, or touching skin and other surfaces.
Handwashing and good respiratory hygiene can help prevent spread. If someone thinks they or their child may have scarlet fever, they should contact their GP practice for a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment with antibiotics if necessary.
Liquid antibiotics, such as penicillin or amoxicillin, are often used to treat children. These must be taken for ten days, even though most people recover after four to five days.
After taking antibiotics for 24 hours people will no longer be infectious, but they need to stay at home until then.
Robinson said there are no reported shortages of antibiotics in Scotland.
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