Strep-A: Advice for parents; there are currently high rates of Strep-A in the UK
There are currently high rates of Scarlet Fever (caused by Group A Strep) in the UK. Scarlet Fever is much more common in children than in adults and it is important that children with Scarlet Fever are seen by their GP so that they can be started on antibiotics.
The rash of Scarlet Fever often begins with small spots on the body that then spread to the neck, arms and legs over the next 1 to 2 days. It is often ‘sandpaper’ like to touch and is sometimes itchy. Your child may also have a:
- sore throat/tonsillitis
- fever (temperature of 38°C (100.4°F or above))
- painful, swollen glands in the neck
Occasionally, the bacteria causing Scarlet Fever can spread to other areas of the body, causing infections in the neck (tonsillar abscesses or lymph node abscesses), chest infections (pneumonia) or sepsis.
You can read more about symptoms and what to do if you think your child might have Scarlet Fever in this leaflet from the NHS: NTPN Scarlet Fever Advice