About Scarlet Fever & Pregnancy
Scarlet fever outbreaks are far less common and less severe now than they were before the discovery of antibiotics, however this illness has not yet been eradicated. With treatment, scarlet fever rarely poses a threat. Expectant mothers should know how to avoid scarlet fever, what to look for, and what to do if exposed to it.
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Features
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Scarlet fever, also known as scarlatina, is an illness cause by the bacteria streptococcus pyogenes. It usually only affects children, from approximately age five until the mid-teens, however rare cases in adults are sometimes diagnosed, and even more rare, cases of further complications. Scarlet fever is an infectious disease, passed on from person to person by close contact. If scarlet fever is suspected, a blood test can be administered to confirm the diagnosis.
Identification
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Many symptoms of scarlet fever resemble strep throat: swollen lymph glands, sore throat, difficulty swallowing and high fever. Headache and nausea may also occur. A telltale sign of scarlet fever is a bright, strawberry-red appearance of the tongue, often accompanied by a white coating on the back of the tongue, throat and uvula. Cheeks may looked red and flushed, leaving an area of whiteness, referred to as a "white mustache," around the mouth. A red, rough rash appears mostly on the upper body.
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Misconceptions
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Scarlet fever was once considered a very dangerous infectious disease. Stories that have prevailed in literature about people, particularly mothers and children, dying or becoming permanently debilitated from scarlet fever continue to stir an alarm in people at the mention of the illness. The truth is, however, that scarlet fever is not nearly as common as it was a century ago, and with advances in modern medicine, it is completely treatable.
Prevention/Solution
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Pregnant women should stay away from anyone who has been diagnosed or is suspected of having scarlet fever. Even if a pregnant woman does catch scarlet fever, according to Wellsphere.com, there is no evidence of passing on the illness to her unborn child. The treatment for scarlet fever is antibiotics. A pregnant woman who believes she was exposed to, or has contracted, scarlet fever should seek the advice of her doctor, and prompt treatment if necessary.
Warning
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High temperatures that may accompany scarlet fever is the biggest concern for pregnant women, particularly when it occurs early in the pregnancy. High temperature is linked to certain birth defects, and fevers are overall not healthy for a fetus. Further risks may be illnesses that can arise from untreated scarlet fever, such as rheumatic fever and the blood infection bacteremia, but these are rare. Prompt treatment of scarlet fever will avoid such risks and complications.
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