Question 1

how would i know if i had rheumatic heart disease? had scarlet fever that went untreated longer than it should have 22 years ago.

Accepted Answer

Echocardiogram: The definitive answer will come from seeing a cardiologist and having an echocardiogram done. That will settle the question once and for all. If you have no cardiac symptoms and no murmurs when your doctor listens to your heart then rheumatic heart disease is unlikely as well.

Question 2

who does scarlet fever attack?

Accepted Answer

Anyone can get: Scarlet Fever, which is simply a strep infection with a rash. It is no more serious than a strep throat, and if diagnosed is easily treated with an antibiotic. It got a bad reputation from the book, The Velveteen Rabbit, which was written before we had antibiotics to easily treat strep/scarlet fever.

Question 3

what does scarlet fever look like?

Accepted Answer

Think sunburn: The color is like a sunburn & the feel is like sandpaper.It tends to start first in the under pants area, armpits & folds of the arms with an interesting pale halo around the mouth.If the if it started with a sore throat, the tongue is beefy red & tonsils swollen. It can be triggered by infection in other body areas.

Question 4

is rheumatic the same as scarlet fever?

Accepted Answer

No: Different conditions produced by the same bacteria.  Group a strep is a bad actor.  Scarlet fever is caused by toxin production by this bug, while rheumatic fever is a reaction of the patient's immune system to infection by the organism.  Very different illnesses.

Question 5

how common is scarlet fever in america?

Accepted Answer

I see cases yearly: Scarlet fever in the days before antibiotics was a truly scary disease. Weeks of high temperature and pealing red skin rash were often followed by other complications. Today it is muted by treatment. The rash generally starts within 12hrs of a fever with any strain of strep that can make the erythrotoxin.Treatment kills enough strep to minimize the rash  & shorten the illness.

Question 6

can you get scarlet fever without a fever?

Accepted Answer

Sure: But this would be very unusual.  That is how it got its name.  But anything can happen.  There are numerous causes for the inability to mount a fever, but the short answer is, it can happen, but rarely.

Question 7

what do i need to know about scarlet fever?

Accepted Answer

Contagious: Scarlet fever is a form of strep throat. The bacteria that infect the throat produce a substance that give you the rash. It can be treated with antibiotics. If it is left untreated it can cause rheumatic fever which affects the heart. 
Someone with a strep infection is not contagious after having been on antibiotics for 24 hours.

Question 8

where is scarlet fever found most in the united states?

Accepted Answer

Throughout the US: Scarlet fever is found throughout the US. It is caused by group A streptococcus, found on the noses and throat of people.  It is most commonly found in children ages 5-15 years.  The classic symptom of scarlet fever is a sandpaper like rash. More about scarlet fever:
https://www.cdc.gov/features/scarletfever/

Question 9

is it possible to contract scarlet fever without developing a fever?

Accepted Answer

Scarlet fever: You may not have a fever but the rash is characteristic-sand papery and inflamed looking. If your throat culture states you have group a strep it is scarlet fever.
The symptoms should start getting better in 2-3 days. The rash may take a bit longer to go. Don't stop your antibiotics in the middle of the treatment though, even if you are better.

Question 10

can you tell me how contagious is scarlet fever?

Accepted Answer

Avoidable: With good hand washing and avoiding any oral secretions of the patient this is avoidable.Scarlet fever is just a form of group A strep disease, commonly a throat infection.Once the patient has been on antibiotic treatment for 24 hours, they are no longer considered contagious.

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Doctor answers about:

Scarlet fever vs fifth disease

A member asked:

How would i know if i had rheumatic heart disease? had scarlet fever that went untreated longer than it should have 22 years ago.

A member asked:

Who does scarlet fever attack?

A member asked:

What does scarlet fever look like?

A member asked:

Is rheumatic the same as scarlet fever?

A member asked:

How common is scarlet fever in america?

A member asked:

Can you get scarlet fever without a fever?

A member asked:

What do i need to know about scarlet fever?

A member asked:

Where is scarlet fever found most in the united states?

A member asked:

Is it possible to contract scarlet fever without developing a fever?

A member asked:

Can you tell me how contagious is scarlet fever?

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