Scarlet fever

April 22, 2012

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Scarlet fever - An acute infectious disease of the character. When scarlet fever in children and adults occur manifestation fever , Punctate rash, general intoxication, sore throat . The causative agent is a scarlet fever streptococcus Group A .

This disease was first described as far back as 1564 . Its name comes from a combination of the English word for " Purple Fever ". It was so called scarlet fever in the seventeenth century.

Most often, scarlet fever in children occurs in cases where the child goes to organized groups of children. Scarlet fever mainly occurs in the cold season, the summer is recorded fewer cases of the disease. Another feature of the disease scarlet fever - periodic ups and downs of disease. Thus, the incidence rises once in several years.

Causes of scarlet fever

Streptococcus group A, which triggers the development of scarlet fever, causes a number of other streptococcal infections. It sore throat . rheumatism . chronic tonsillitis . streptoderma   et al. Streptococcus group A produces exotoxin Under which influence a person showing signs of intoxication, rash . The source of infection is the man who aches scarlet fever, a sore throat, as well as other forms of streptococcal infection. To catch the disease and can be carriers of the group A streptococci, whose disease does not manifest itself. The greatest danger is to surround the patient in the first days of illness. However, already after three weeks after the onset of its infectivity is terminated. Among people today meets a lot of media streptococcus group A. There is evidence that these are about 15% of the population. The infection is transmitted to humans by airborne droplets by a spray mechanism. Usually, people infected with scarlet fever after very close contact with sick or healthy carriers of streptococcus. You can also become infected and by alimentary (through food), and contact (using everyday objects, through dirty hands).

Mostly the symptoms of scarlet fever occur in people who do not have a toxicity immunity .

The causative agent is introduced into the human body through the mucous membranes of the nose, throat and pharynx very rare infection occurs through the mucous membranes of the genitals. Further pathogen, moving through the lymph vessels, lymph nodes, and gets into it accumulates. Therefore develop inflammatory responses, which are characterized by the appearance of foci Necrosis   and leukocytic infiltration .

Symptoms of scarlet fever

Typically, the incubation period is from one to ten days. Basically scarlet fever in adults and children begins acutely. Sometimes, even in the early hours of the development of the disease appear pronounced symptoms of scarlet fever: sudden changes in body temperature, which rises to high levels, significant malaise, headaches, tachycardia Weakness. Sometimes the patient may hurt stomach.

If a person holds a fever, in the early days of his illness, he may be too excited and moving or, conversely, lethargic and weak with severe sleepiness . Sometimes there is vomiting as a consequence of intoxication. However, the symptoms of scarlet fever are not always so. Today, it fixed a lot of cases, when scarlet fever in children and adults is developing at a low body temperature.

During the progression of the disease the patient complains of pain in the process of swallowing. A doctor examining a patient, said the presence of a bright diffuse redness of the tonsils, uvula, arches, soft palate and posterior pharyngeal wall. Compared with symptoms of angina, in this case there is a more intense congestion, it also significantly limit where the mucous becomes hard palate.

When scarlet fever may be a manifestation mucopurulent, and in some cases and necrotic plaque on the tonsils. This also arise symptoms regional lymphadenitis In which there is pain and density perednesheynyh lymph nodes .

Initially, as a symptom of scarlet fever in a patient observed plaque gray-white hue on the tongue, but after a few days, the tongue becomes clean, bright red. Hypertrophied papillae on it. If scarlet fever becomes severe, the crimson color is noticeable and on the lips of the patient. When listening to the heart rhythm is marked tachycardia, with moderately elevated pressure.

Already on the first or second day of the disease the patient has scarlet rash. It is the general background hyperemic. The most important sign of scarlet fever in the process of diagnosis of the disease is just a rash. Initially rash consisting of small red dots appear on the face, neck, upper trunk. A little later comes its rapid spread on the flexor surfaces of the extremities, in the stomach and chest. Perhaps the rash on the inner thighs. Another defining symptom of scarlet fever - a rash, which is condensed in the form of strips of red color on the skin folds in the fold, armpit. Sometimes small red dots merge that gives the impression of having a continuous erythema .

The rash on the face of the patient is on her cheeks, she expressed mene on the forehead, temples. Once the rash appears the patient feels a constant itch. At the same time it expressed a pale nasolabial triangle, which is free of the rash.

Sometimes scarlet fever in adults and children is evident not only characteristic of the disease rash, but small vesicles   and papular elements . When scarlet fever rash occurs in about three days, but sometimes it is absent. Within three or four days the patient feels better, he lowered body temperature, symptoms fade scars. In place of the red dots after their disappearance is observed peeling of the skin .

Types of scarlet fever

Scarlet Fever can occur in light . moderate   and heavy   form. Furthermore, there is another classification of the disease.

With ekstrabukkalnoy scarlet fever   the infection enters the body through the skin previously affected: the pathogen is introduced through wounds, burns, and others. At the same time spread the rash comes from the place where previously infiltrated pathogen. Inflammation in the oropharynx and cervical lymph nodes is observed. This form of scarlet fever appears today very rare.

With erased forms of scarlet fever   the symptoms are mild, they resemble the general toxic symptoms. Scarlet fever in adults, often appears in this form. At the same time there are changes in the oropharynx catarrhal nature, small and rapidly disappearing rash.

But sometimes scarlet fever in adults is shown in toxic-septic form   and it has been very hard. This form of the disease develops infrequently. It starts very rapidly while the patient is present hyperthermia, vascular insufficiency, which develops very quickly, sometimes appear on the skin hemorrhage . A little later, these symptoms of scarlet fever and join other complications. The incidence of kidney damage, heart and joints. Also septic complications may arise that are expressed lymphadenitis . necrotic angina   and etc.

The complications of scarlet fever

The most common complications of scarlet fever in patients with manifest running ear . purulent and necrotizing lymphadenitis . It is also possible infectious and allergic complications , eg, myocarditis . diffuse glomerulonephritis . The latter is more common for adults.

Diagnosis of scarlet fever

In the process of diagnosis of the disease is important to distinguish from scarlet fever pseudotuberculosis . Measles . Rubella Sometimes with corresponding symptoms - of Diphtheria . Doctor examines, in the presence of the above symptoms characteristic of scarlet fever, appoints further studies that can confirm the presence of the disease. If the patient has a rash occurs, the doctor in the course of inspection presses her palm, and then the rash disappears for a while.

Patients with suspected scarlet fever also appointed laboratory blood. Their results demonstrate the presence of the changes that are typical for a bacterial infection. At the time of diagnosis do not practice abjection.

Treatment for scarlet fever

Treatment for scarlet fever today is carried out, as a rule, outside the hospital. Hospitalization only in very severe cases and in the presence of complications of scarlet fever. In the treatment of scarlet fever it is very important to observe strict bed rest for at least a week. Basically, the treatment involves the appointment of scarlet fever course of treatment Penicillin . As alternative agents in this case are used erythromycin . cefazolin . Treatment with these drugs should continue for ten days.

If a person, there are contraindications to the listed drug, then such patients prescribed semisynthetic penicillins . lincosamides . In addition, treatment of scarlet fever involves periodic gargling. To this solution is suitable furatsilina And extracts of herbs such as calendula, chamomile, eucalyptus, sage. It is also helpful to drink herbal teas from the collection of herbs with anti-inflammatory effects. Also, the treatment of scarlet fever include reception vitamin complexes   and antihistamines . Sometimes it is appropriate periodic reception antipyretic drugs . The rash disappears as the recovery and use of additional local resources for treatment not required.

In addition, in the process of healing the patient should drink plenty of warm liquid, and in the early days of the disease is necessary to use a warm, semi-liquid food. It is advisable to give a sick child fruit drinks, juices, jellies, milk soups, broths.

It is important that patients with scarlet fever were isolated. If there is a scarlet fever in children, the sick child should not be in contact with other children, and in the children's collective him not earlier than twelve days after recovery. When the manifestation of the disease in children in children's institutions there Announce week quarantine.

Prevention of scarlet fever

To date, there is no specific vaccine against scarlet fever. Therefore, as a preventive quarantine measures applied on a child who is ill with scarlet fever. It is equally important to take all measures to ensure that the body's immune defenses had been ill with scarlet fever a child has increased. To do this, parents should provide regular activities that help strengthen the immune system. It is a gradual hardening, the right approach to ensure a healthy diet, compliance with all the rules of hygiene. Parents should monitor and ensure that the child timely checkups by a doctor and receive adequate treatment for diseases of gums and teeth . sinusitis . tonsillitis . otitis .