Scarlet fever folk methods of treatment. Traditional medicine recipes for scarlet fever. Video: Dr. E. Komarovsky on what scarlet fever is, its treatment and complications

Nastya asks:

What is the home treatment for scarlet fever?

Currently, due to the availability of tableted forms of antibiotics and a mild course, scarlet fever in the vast majority of cases is treated at home. First of all, a sick person needs to provide bed rest for 4 - 6 days and until recovery, give plenty of fluids (at least 2 - 3 liters per day).

When treating scarlet fever, be sure to take antibiotics for 10 days. Moreover, the course of antibiotic therapy serves two purposes at the same time - firstly, it heals and facilitates the course of scarlet fever, and secondly, it effectively and reliably prevents the development of complications from the kidneys, heart and joints. The duration of the course of antibiotic therapy in 10 days should not be reduced under any circumstances, since otherwise it will not be prevented dangerous complications scarlet fever. That is, if a person does not want to get rheumatism, arthritis or glomerulonephritis with a probability of 50% in the future, then antibiotics should be drunk within 10 days, even if recovery from scarlet fever occurs much earlier (for example, after 5 days). Moreover, the duration of the course of antibiotic therapy for scarlet fever is the same for both children and adults.

The drugs of choice for scarlet fever are penicillins (Amoxicillin, Oxacillin, Augmentin, etc.), which should be taken in standard dosages. If a person is allergic to penicillin, then macrolides (Erythromycin, Clarithromycin or Azithromycin) or 1st generation cephalosporins (Cephalexin, Cefapirin, etc.) can be used.

In addition to antibiotics, scarlet fever is used symptomatic therapy, aimed at reducing the severity of painful symptoms and improving general well-being. Symptomatic remedies are used only as needed, that is, there is no strict duration of courses for their use in scarlet fever. In other words, symptomatic treatment used until the person is worried about any manifestations of the infection. As soon as they disappear, symptomatic treatment can be stopped immediately. At home, with scarlet fever, the following symptomatic methods can be used:

1. Drinking plenty of fluids which reduces symptoms of intoxication (headache, loss of appetite, malaise, general weakness etc.);

Sore throat usually occurs when the child has a decrease. Taking advantage of the situation, the microbes living in the nasopharynx are activated, and the mucous membranes of the nose and throat are not able to contain their pressure.

The body's defenses can be weakened for several reasons. In autumn or winter, immunity tests for endurance low temperature air outside the window. Sore throat can be caused by streptococcal infection, a seasonal virus (for example), contained in the air chemical substances, dust, smoke, pollen, mold. You can get infected from another person by airborne droplets... However, troubles can also begin as a result of rather harmless actions: for example, if the baby inhales dry air through his mouth for a long time, screams strongly or sings a lot.

The first signs of a sore throat

At the very beginning, the child will complain of a sore throat that worsens when swallowing. In addition, weakness and fever may occur.

In children under 4 years of age, angina proceeds differently: babies complain not of a sore throat, but of nausea, discomfort in the abdomen and fever. Another characteristic symptom- enlarged and reddened tonsils, which, depending on the type of angina (catarrhal, follicular or lacunar), are partially or completely covered with purulent plaque. Parallel The lymph nodes the neck and under the ear at the base of the jaw become larger and usually painful to touch. Call your doctor if you notice these symptoms.

To make a diagnosis, the doctor needs to determine whether the sore throat is caused by bacteria or a virus, and to rule out diphtheria by taking a throat swab for analysis. Only in this case can the baby be prescribed the correct treatment.

Rules of behavior

Usually, angina is treated at home. Doctors prescribe effective bactericidal drugs (and sometimes antibiotics) that relieve the main symptoms of the disease in two to three days. Although your child will feel weak and tired for the next 7-10 days, you can help him recover faster.

Keep your baby in bed, feed him light and liquid food (soups, steamed cutlets), do not give anything spicy or hot. Special attention give to drinks: often offer your baby tea with lemon, juices, jelly.

If the baby is sick, give the same volume of liquid, but in small doses (a teaspoon or dessert spoon).

If the baby has a fever, do not wrap him up, and if the temperature approaches 39 ° C, give a paracetamol-based antipyretic agent.

For gargling, which must be repeated 5-6 times a day, prepare an infusion of medicinal herbs or use 2% baking soda, baking soda, or sea salt... At the same time, remember that children after three years of age are able to gargle correctly, although they sometimes swallow part of the prepared liquid during the procedure.

Apply warming compresses (for example, with vodka) around your baby's neck. First, soak a cotton or linen cloth in the solution, then wring it around the baby's neck by wringing it out. Put parchment or plastic wrap on top, then a layer of cotton wool, on it - a soft woolen scarf. Secure with a bandage or kerchief and warm your throat for 1.5-2 hours.

If the baby is often sick with sore throats, contact the nearest department rehabilitation treatment... Doctors may suggest that you undergo a special wellness course twice a year, which includes gymnastics, massage and the most different types physiotherapy (electro-light therapy, halotherapy - microclimate treatment salt caves, aromatherapy and aerophytotherapy - treatment with volatile components essential oils etc.).

Scarlet fever in children

This childhood infection was once considered very dangerous, and nowadays antibiotics help doctors cope with it in a matter of days. The main thing is to recognize the disease as soon as possible.

Scarlet fever is caused by group A streptococci - relatives of those that lead to angina, otitis media and sinusitis. These bacteria are easily transmitted through the air when a sick person coughs or sneezes. Most often, children suffer from scarlet fever after 1 year; in adults, it almost never occurs, and babies are protected from it by their mother's immunity.

Once in a child's body, the infection manifests itself rather quickly: from the moment of infection, only a few hours can pass; but sometimes the latent (doctors will say - incubation) period of the disease lasts up to 12 days.

Symptoms of scarlet fever

Most often, troubles begin with the throat: in the baby it becomes very inflamed and reddens, the temperature rises, and sometimes vomiting begins. The baby becomes lethargic, refuses to eat.

That the reason feeling unwell- it is scarlet fever, and not the usual one, that will tell the language of the baby. At the beginning of the disease, it is thickly coated with a gray-yellow bloom, but from the second or third day it clears around the edges and at the tip, becomes crimson, with bright papillae.

After a few hours, but more often after 1-2 days, a rash appears on the baby's skin, quickly spreading throughout the body. Small pink pimples soon turn dark red; because of this color, scarlet fever got its name (scarlatto is translated from Italian as "crimson"). The rash attaches to the face of a sick toddler characteristic appearance: bright cheeks and lips against a pale triangle around the mouth.

Rashes with scarlet fever often choose the sides, lower abdomen, folds of the skin, armpits and groin. The rash lasts 3-7 days; then the skin in its place begins to slip, especially strongly on the palms (another typical sign of scarlet fever).

How can I help my child?

Usually doctors do not hospitalize babies with scarlet fever. To treat streptococcal infection will be antibiotics, most likely with penicillin - it is important to stop the development of the disease as early as possible, preventing complications in the heart and kidneys. Medicines manage to cope with the infection quickly, nevertheless, the child will have to spend 2-3 weeks at home, and the first 5-6 days in bed.

Within 7-10 days from the onset of the disease, the baby remains dangerous to others. During this time, he must be protected from communication with other children, and adult family members should take precautions so as not to get infected. They can be struck not by scarlet fever itself (it is very rare in adults), but by other forms of streptococcal infection, causing, for example, sore throat.

The vaccine against scarlet fever is not given - it is believed that it would be carried more heavily than the disease itself. In addition, once faced with this infection, the body develops immunity against it for life.

What else is important for parents to remember?

Allocate special dishes to the sick baby. Keep it separate from the general and boil it after use.
Change your child's bedding, pajamas and towels every other day, and boil the used ones and be sure to iron them with an iron.
The nursery should be fresh and cool (no higher than 20 ° C) - microbes multiply faster in hot air. Ventilate the room 5-6 times a day, but do not allow drafts, do wet cleaning and dust off every day.
If the baby is still receiving mother's milk, it is worthwhile to apply it to the breast more often - the protective components of milk will help to quickly cope with the infection. Older children need to be fed a little, but often give less protein that is difficult to digest: meat, butter, cottage cheese. Prepare tender soups, mashed potatoes, mashed cereals, omelets for your baby; avoid foods that can scratch sore throat, such as crackers and nuts. Until the child is completely healed, eliminate all fried, fatty, salty and sour.
Often drink the crumbs with juices diluted with water, fruit drinks, herbal tea.
Even if the baby's well-being improves quickly, be sure to complete the course of antibiotics prescribed by the doctor to prevent complications.
You can walk with a baby with scarlet fever only on the tenth day after the onset of the disease.

Discussion

We treat the throat with gargles with iodangin powder, very effective and convenient, diluted in warm water and gargle 3-4 times a day.

05/27/2019 18:49:46, SerGo34

My son had tonsillitis at the age of 6. Gargled as best they could. The doctor said with furacilin, plus Trachisan tablets, to get rid of the infection. Positive result did not keep me waiting long. Within a week, the inflammation disappeared and the child felt well.

An adult sore throat is difficult, and a child even more so. Tonsilotren helped my daughter well. I have successfully cured their sore throat. And when the pediatrician and her daughter appointed him, she knew for sure that she would help. Was taken as directed for 10 days. The throat was clear.

Mama Kids, antibiotics aren't good either. It's better to try to cope with sore throat. My child's throat began to hurt quite often. And what is antibiotics a way out? As soon as he complained of a sore throat, immediately Anti angina lozenges and let him chew. They often save us and we very rarely get to antibiotics. I don’t even remember when, about 8 years old, probably the last time they were used for treatment. And now we are doing well without them.

A good article, for those who are unfamiliar with sore throats, it will be twice as useful. As a child, I myself often suffered from sore throats, I already know what these are and how they are treated, the first times I got to the hospital with a sore throat, after that I did not bring it to hospitalization. Knowing and going through this in children, I try to immediately start treatment, or rather call a doctor, of course, in case of angina without antibiotics, well, in this case, already better antibiotic drink, than then treat complications.

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Scarlet fever - serious and pretty dangerous disease... Home treatment is possible, but it must be carried out in compliance with certain rules.

Causes and manifestations of the disease

Scarlet fever is an acute infectious disease caused by the activity of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. Pathogens can enter the human body through the mouth or nasal cavity... Once on the mucous membranes, streptococci begin to secrete toxins, the effect of which causes the symptoms characteristic of the disease.

Manifestations of scarlet fever:

A sharp increase in body temperature to critical levels (38-39 degrees), which is often accompanied by manifestations of general intoxication of the body, such as headaches and muscle pains, weakness, drowsiness, fever.
Sore throat (especially when swallowing). On examination, there is severe redness throat, hyperemia. On closer inspection, red spots or bubbles can be found.
The tongue is covered bright red spots and increases in size, the papillae become swollen.
Rash. It first covers the face and neck, then appears on the folds of the arms and legs, and then goes to the hips, abdomen, back and chest. When pressed, the rashes disappear for a few seconds. The rash may be accompanied by peeling of the skin, itching.

How to treat scarlet fever at home?

Home treatment of a disease such as scarlet fever should be carried out strictly under the supervision of a physician. We list the main directions of therapy and on each important moment let's dwell in more detail.

Antibacterial therapy

Treatment must certainly include taking antibiotics, since group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus is a bacterium and can only be destroyed if antibacterial components are exposed.

There are several groups of antibiotics that may include treating scarlet fever:

Treatment of scarlet fever will be successful only if the rules for taking the drug are followed. First, the specialist must select the dosage. Secondly, the course of therapy should be completed completely.

It should be remembered that any remedy has side effects and contraindications.

Application of local remedies

At home, you can use topical antibacterial, antiseptic, or anti-inflammatory medications available as irrigation sprays. oral cavity or rinsing solutions. The most effective are such drugs as "Bioparox", "Chlorhexidine", "Miramistin", "Chlorophyllipt", "Furacilin" and some others. Irrigation or gargling should be done regularly and often until the condition improves (usually within 5 days).

Furacilin - one of the means for washing the throat

Conditions

Treatment of scarlet fever must necessarily include providing a favorable environment for the patient. The most important points:

First of all, the patient should be isolated from the rest of the family whenever possible. Any close contact with him must be ruled out.
The room should be regularly ventilated.
You also need to regularly wet clean.
The patient should observe bed rest in the first 3-5 days, and sparing until recovery.

Diet

Home treatment for a disease such as scarlet fever includes diet. To alleviate the condition and reduce the risk of complications, you must adhere to the following rules:

For early recovery mucous membranes, it is advisable to use only chopped food: soups, liquid mashed potatoes and cereals, jelly.
Warm food to room temperature before use.
You should not eat spicy, salty, sour foods.
A plentiful warm drink is required, it will help the body to quickly remove toxins and speed up the healing process.

Folk remedies

Home treatments for scarlet fever may include the following folk remedies.

Use proven folk remedies on a par with formal therapy, but do not exclude it, since the causative agent of the disease has a great tendency to cause chronic infectious diseases. Remember to listen to your doctor's advice.

Black radish. Wash the large black radish thoroughly, grind it on a grater, put it on a gauze napkin and put it on your throat in the form of a compress. Warm the compress with a woolen cloth, leave for three hours. The patient should be in bed at this time. Continue the treatment for a week, making compresses twice a day.
Horseradish for rinsing. Grind the medium horseradish root on a grater, pour a liter of warm boiled water and leave for three hours. Mix well and strain. Use the infusion for gargling five to six times a day, preheating each portion in a water bath. Continue the treatment for ten days.
Sage and calendula gargles. Pour half a glass of crushed sage leaves and inflorescences and half a glass of calendula flowers with a liter of water and simmer in a water bath for 30 minutes. Leave to infuse for 10 minutes and strain. Use for rinsing at least three times a day. You can also use this broth as a lotion on the sites of rashes: this will reduce itching and prevent the attachment of a secondary infection.
Propolis and milk. Finely chop about a teaspoon of propolis, add it to a glass of milk and heat in a water bath for 15 minutes. Stir well and drink the entire serving in small sips overnight. Be sure to gargle your throat before your procedure. You can also glue softened pea-sized propolis to the inside of your cheek during the day.
Honey. Mix a tablespoon of natural liquid honey with two tablespoons of purified olive oil and with a teaspoon of flour. Whisk two egg yolks thoroughly and add to the mixture; mix everything well again. Take this medicine six times a day for a week.
Cabbage and beets. Prepare cabbage and beet juice in any way (chopping on a grater or in a juicer), so that you end up with one glass of juice for each vegetable. Mix the juices and add the juice of one lemon to them. Use the gargle and drink mixture for ten days.
Pumpkin and milk. Remove the core from the pumpkin, carefully freeing it from the seeds, cut a thin layer across and saturate it with milk. Apply pumpkin pulp to sore tonsils not less than half an hour. Treat twice a day after rinsing for a week. It is not recommended to use this remedy for the treatment of children: suffocation may occur as a result of the pumpkin pulp getting into the respiratory tract.
Licorice and ginger. Mix equal parts of the crushed licorice and ginger roots. Pour a tablespoon of the finished mixture (preferably in powder form) with a glass of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. Strain and drink the entire volume. Cook this infusion three times a day for a week.
Kalina and honey. At the first signs of scarlet fever in children, give them this drink: viburnum juice diluted with water and honey. Prepare juice from the fruits of viburnum (you can from frozen) to get a volume of 400 ml. Dilute the juice with the same amount of boiled water and add two tablespoons of liquid honey. Give your child half a glass of this drink five to six times a day. Continue treatment for twelve days, even after the symptoms have disappeared.

Scarlet fever- an acute infectious disease. It is manifested by a small rash, intoxication and sore throat. It is more common in children, but adults can also be victims of this disease. All signs and symptoms of scarlet fever are caused by action erythrotoxin (from the Greek "red toxin").

It is a poisonous substance that produces given view streptococcus. Having been ill with scarlet fever once, a person develops immunity to beta-hemolytic streptococcus. Therefore, it is no longer possible to get infected with scarlet fever again.

What is the cause of scarlet fever?

Scarlet fever is an infectious disease caused by a microorganism. V this case the causative agent of the disease is group A streptococcus. It is also called beta-hemolytic streptococcus. This bacterium is spherical. It secretes Dick's toxin, which causes intoxication (poisoning of the body with toxins) and a small rash (exanthema). It settles on human mucous membranes. They most often reproduce in the nasopharynx, but can live on the skin, intestines, and vagina. For protection, bacteria can create a capsule around themselves, they are prone to the formation of clusters - colonies.

In some people, Streptococcus A may be part of the microflora. That is, it peacefully coexists with the human body, without causing disease. But after stress, hypothermia, when immunity falls, streptococci begin to multiply actively. At the same time, they poison the body with their toxins.

The source of the spread of infection with scarlet fever, a person appears. This could be:

Patient with scarlet fever, angina or streptococcal pharyngitis. Such a person is especially dangerous for those around him in the first days of the illness.
Reconvalescent - a person who has recovered after past illness... He can secrete streptococci for some time. Such a carrier can last up to three weeks.
A healthy carrier is a person who has no signs of the disease, but group A streptococci live on the mucous membrane of his nasopharynx and are released into the environment. There are quite a lot of such people, up to 15% of the total population.

Main transmission path scarlet fever - airborne. When talking, coughing or sneezing, bacteria are released along with droplets of saliva and mucus. They fall on the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract healthy person... Streptococci can find a new host in another way. For example, through toys, bed linen and towels, poorly washed dishes, food. There have been cases when the infection occurred in women in labor through the birth canal.

Epidemiology of scarlet fever.

Today, this disease is considered a childhood infection. Most patients are less than 12 years old. But the disease can also occur in adults. But babies up to a year practically do not get sick. This is due to the fact that they inherited maternal immunity.

The patient is considered contagious from the first to 22 days of illness. There is an opinion that he can infect others a day before the first symptoms appear. This is due to the fact that during this period, streptococci are already in large numbers in the nasopharynx and stand out during conversation. But the body's immune cells are still keeping the situation under control, so there are no signs of illness.

The disease peaks in September-October and during the winter, when children return to school or Kindergarten... V summer time the number of cases is decreasing.

Due to the greater density of the population, the incidence is higher in cities. Urban children carry this disease in preschool and early childhood school age and acquire immunity. And in countryside Adults often get sick with scarlet fever, if they communicated with a patient with scarlet fever.

Scarlet fever epidemics occur every 3-5 years. Over the past decades, scarlet fever has become significantly more mild illness... If earlier the mortality rate from it reached 12-20%, now it does not even reach a thousandth of a percent. This is due to the use of antibiotics for the treatment of scarlet fever with a weakening of the toxicity of staphylococcus. However, some researchers argue that there are epidemics of "malignant" scarlet fever every 40-50 years. When the number of complications and mortality rates rise to 40%.

What are the signs and symptoms of scarlet fever in children?

Scarlet fever in children causes severe poisoning erythrogenic streptococcal toxin. Its action causes all the changes that occur in the body during illness.

The onset of the disease is always acute. The temperature rises sharply to 38-39 °. The child becomes lethargic, feels severe weakness, headache and nausea. This is often accompanied by repeated vomiting. In the evening, a characteristic rash begins to appear. Its features will be discussed below.

Children complain of sore throat, especially when swallowing. The palate turns red, the tonsils are greatly enlarged and covered with a whitish coating. This is due to the fact that streptococci A colonize the tonsils and multiply intensively there. Therefore, streptococcal sore throat almost always develops with scarlet fever.

Lymph nodes that are at the level of the corners lower jaw, increase and hurt. With the flow of lymph, toxins and bacteria from the nasopharynx enter them, causing inflammation.

If a wound or cut served as the entrance gate for infection, then tonsillitis does not develop. The rest of the symptoms characteristic of scarlet fever persist.

What does a child with scarlet fever look like (photo)?

General state resembles a cold (fever, weakness)
The first hours the course of scarlet fever is similar to the flu or other acute illness.

Skin rash
But after about a day, a specific rash appears and others external symptoms... A rash with scarlet fever is called exanthema. It is caused by an erythrogenic toxin, which is part of the exotoxin secreted by group A streptococcus.

Erythrotoxin causes acute inflammation upper layers skin. A rash is an allergic reaction of the body.

For some characteristic outward signs scarlet fever can be distinguished from other infectious diseases. The first small pimples appear on the neck and upper body. The skin becomes red and rough. Gradually, in 2-3 days, the elements of the rash spread throughout the body. The rash lasts from several hours to five days. Then peeling occurs in its place. This leaves the cells of the epidermis affected by streptococcus toxin.

Facial symptoms
The baby's face becomes puffy, swollen. At the first glance at the child, attention is drawn to the pale area around the lips. It contrasts sharply with red cheeks and crimson lips... The eyes shine feverishly.

What does the tongue look like with scarlet fever?

What does a scarlet fever skin rash look like?

Exposure to group A streptococcus toxin leads to the expansion of all small vessels. At the same time, lymph containing toxin seeps through the walls of the capillaries. There is swelling and inflammation of the skin, a rash appears.

Symptom name	Description	what does it look like?
Skin rash	Rash in the form of pimples, roseola are very small and have a bright pink color, with a brighter center. Size 1-2 mm.
Pimples	They rise above the surface of the skin. It is almost invisible, but the skin feels rough, like sandpaper. This phenomenon is called "shagreen skin".
Dry and itchy skin	Typical for scarlet fever. Redness is observed around the pimples. This is because the skin is inflamed. The elements are very small and are so densely arranged that they practically merge.
Rash on the skin of the body	more pronounced on the sides of the body, in the groin, axillary and gluteal folds, on the back and in the lower abdomen. This is because the elements of the rash appear where stronger sweating and thinner skin. Beta-hemolytic streptococcus toxins are eliminated through the pores of the skin.
Darkening in the folds of the skin	In the folds of skin(neck, elbow and knee bends) dark stripes are found that do not disappear with pressure. This is due to the fact that the vessels become more fragile and small hemorrhages are formed.
White dermographism	White trail formed by pressing on the rash or holding it with a blunt object. It is important diagnostic sign, which was named "white dermographism".
Pale nasolabial triangle	Against the background of rashes on the skin of the entire face "clean", without a rash, the area of the nasolabial triangle
Individual roseola on the face is not visible	The rash is so small that the cheeks appear evenly reddened.
The rash lasts for 3-5 days	Sometimes only a few hours. Then it disappears without leaving dark age spots.
After 7-14 days, peeling of the skin begins	At first, in those places where the rash was more intense - in the folds of the body. On the face, peeling is fine, on the arms and legs it is lamellar. This is due to the death of skin cells and the separation of the upper layer - the epidermis.
The skin on the palms and feet comes off in layers	Because of close connection between epithelial cells in these areas. Peeling begins from the free edge of the nail, then goes to the tips of the fingers and covers the entire palm. The disappearance of the rash and recovery is due to the accumulation of antibodies in the body. They bind toxins and relieve the manifestations of toxicosis.

What are the symptoms of scarlet fever in adults?

Scarlet fever is considered a childhood disease. This is due to the fact that by the age of 18-20, most people have already developed immunity to streptococci. Still, outbreaks of the disease occur among adults. Especially often in close, closed groups: in student dormitories, among the military.

Currently, severe epidemics among adults are rare. In most cases, they occur as streptococcal pharyngitis without a rash.

The signs of scarlet fever in adults may not be as striking as in children. Often, a rash on the body is imperceptible and insignificant, it goes away in a few hours. This complicates the diagnosis.

Scarlet fever in adults begins acutely and has much in common with angina. Changes in the nasopharynx are caused by the fact that beta-hemolytic streptococcus multiplies most intensively in this area. It causes destruction of the mucous membrane. The intense red color of the palate and tongue is due to the fact that under the influence of toxins secreted by bacteria, small vessels expand. Also there are:

severe sore throat that worsens when swallowing
a whitish-yellow coating appears on the tonsils, purulent foci and ulcers may appear
enlarged and inflamed submandibular lymph nodes

In adults, symptoms of general intoxication rapidly increase - poisoning with streptococcus toxin:

high fever, often up to 40 °
weakness and severe headache
nausea and repeated vomiting in the first hours of the illness

They are caused by the entry of Dick's toxin into the bloodstream and the spread of the infection throughout the body. This causes shallow allergic rash... The skin becomes dry, rough, itching appears. Rashes have the same features as in children:

the first rashes appear on the face
the area below the nose to the chin without rash and sharply pale
most of all roseola is found in the folds of the body and above the pubis
dermographism is observed - a white trace after pressing, which is noticeable for 15-20 seconds
v severe cases the rash may become bluish in color. This is due to minor bleeding under the skin.

Streptococcus A can enter the body through cuts and burns. In this case, the rash is more pronounced near the wound where bacteria have settled. The lymph nodes near the affected area become enlarged and painful. This is due to the fact that they are trying to delay the spread of the infection. They, like filters, accumulate microorganisms and their decay products.

How long is the incubation period for scarlet fever?

Incubation period- this is the time from the moment beta-hemolytic streptococcus enters the body until the first manifestations of the disease. This period of the disease is also called latent. The person is already infected, but the number of bacteria is still not large and they do not have a tangible effect.

The incubation period for scarlet fever lasts from 1 to 12 days. In most cases, from 2 to 7 days. The duration depends on the state of immunity and the number of streptococci that have entered the body.

During this period, streptococci settle on the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract and multiply intensively there. The body's immune cells are trying to destroy them, and at first they cope with their task. The body begins to produce special antibodies to fight the disease.

But then there comes a moment when there are too many streptococci and they intensively release toxins, undermining the strength of the body. Human immunity is not able to cope with them on its own and treatment is required.

How to prevent scarlet fever?

In order to protect yourself from scarlet fever, it is necessary to avoid communication with a patient with scarlet fever and carriers of staphylococcus. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. After all, the carriers look absolutely healthy.

To protect yourself and your child, you need to know how the disease is transmitted.

airborne- infection occurs when communicating, staying in the same room
food (alimentary)- staphylococci get on foods that are then consumed by a healthy person
contact- transmission of bacteria from a sick person to a healthy person through household items, toys, clothes

Scarlet fever is not as contagious as others infectious diseases such as chickenpox. You can stay in the same room with a sick person and not get infected. Susceptibility to disease depends on immunity.

Main preventive measures: identification and isolation of patients. In the team where the patient was, they impose quarantine for a period of 7 days. If the child went to kindergarten, then the group does not accept those children who have not been in contact with the sick person. They are temporarily transferred to other groups.

During this period, a daily examination of all children or adults who have been in contact is carried out. In children's groups, the temperature is measured daily, the throat and skin are examined. This is necessary in order to timely identify new cases. Pay special attention to signs respiratory infection and sore throats. Since this may be the first symptoms of scarlet fever.

Children who communicated with the patient are not allowed into kindergartens and the first two classes of school for 7 days after contact. This is to make sure the child is not infected.

A patient with scarlet fever is isolated and admitted to the team 22 days after the onset of the disease or 12 days after clinical recovery.

Anyone who communicated with the patient is prescribed Tomicid. The drug must be rinsed or sprayed on the throat 4 times a day, after meals for 5 days. This helps prevent the development of the disease and get rid of streptococci that may have entered the nasopharynx.

Most often, treatment is carried out at home. Patients with a severe course of the disease are also sent to the hospital when it is necessary to prevent infection of small children or workers of decreed professions. These are the people who work with children, in hospitals and in the field of nutrition. They are hospitalized for at least 10 days. For another 12 days after recovery, such people are not allowed into the team.

If a child is sick in the family, then the following rules must be observed:

exclude communication with other children
put the patient in a separate room
one family member must take care of the child
do not wash the child's clothes with the linen of the rest of the family
allocate separate dishes, bed linen, towels, hygiene products
handle toys carefully disinfectant solution and then rinse with running water

The room where the patient is located is disinfected. This is a wet cleaning with a 0.5% chloramine solution. You also need to regularly boil the linen and dishes of the sick person. Such measures will help prevent the spread of streptococcus and infection of others.

Dispensary registration

In order to prevent the carriage of streptococcus, patients are under medical supervision for a month after being discharged from the hospital. After 7 days and a month later, control blood and urine tests are performed. If necessary, do a cardiogram. If bacteria are not detected in the analyzes, then the person is removed from the dispensary registration.

What are the possible consequences of scarlet fever?

All complications with scarlet fever are due to the peculiarity of the bacteria that causes it. Beta-hemolytic streptococcus has a triple effect on the body:

toxic- Poisons with bacterial poisons. Dick's toxin affects the heart, blood vessels, nervous system, adrenal cortex, protein and water-mineral metabolism is disturbed
allergic- proteins that are formed as a result of the breakdown of bacteria cause an allergic reaction. This factor is considered the most dangerous.
septic- spreads through the body with blood flow and causes purulent foci of inflammation in various organs.

According to statistics, complications occur in 5% of patients. Of this number, almost 10% are heart lesions (endocarditis, myocarditis). In second place, 6% is pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys). In third place is sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses of the nose).

Complications after scarlet fever are divided into early and late.

Early complications of scarlet fever appear 3-4 days after the onset of the disease.

Consequences associated with the spread of the infectious process and the spread of beta-hemolytic streptococcus.

You may experience:

necrotizing sore throat- the destruction caused by streptococcus can lead to the death of mucosal areas on the tonsils
paraamygdalic abscess- accumulation of pus under the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx around the tonsils
lymphadenitis- inflammation of the lymph nodes as a result of the accumulation of bacteria and decay products in them
otitis- inflammation of the middle ear
pharyngitis- inflammation of the pharyngeal walls
sinusitis- inflammation of the paranasal sinuses
purulent foci(abscesses) in the liver and kidneys
sepsis- blood poisoning

Toxic. Streptococcus toxin causes disturbances in the tissues of the heart "toxic heart". Its walls swell, soften, and the heart grows in size. The pulse slows down, the pressure drops. Shortness of breath and chest pain occurs. These phenomena are short-term and disappear after the body accumulates enough antibodies that bind toxin.

Allergic. The body's allergic reaction to the bacteria and its toxins causes temporary kidney damage. Its severity depends on the individual reaction of the organism and on whether it has encountered this bacterium before.
The manifestation of allergies is damage to blood vessels. They become brittle, arise internal bleeding... Of these, cerebral hemorrhage is especially dangerous.

Late complications of scarlet fever

Late aftermath the most dangerous and associated with sensitization of the body - allergies. As a result, the cells immune system attack their own tissues and organs. The most serious allergic complications are:

Damage to the valves of the heart- the valves that provide blood flow in the desired direction are thickened. At the same time, the tissue becomes brittle and torn. Blood circulation in the heart is impaired, heart failure develops. Manifested by shortness of breath and aching pain in the chest.
Synovitis- Serous inflammation of the joints - the result of allergization, occurs in the second week of the disease. Small joints of fingers and feet are affected. It is manifested by swelling and soreness. It passes on its own without treatment.
Rheumatism- defeat large joints, occurs at 3-5 weeks. In addition to pain in the limbs, complications from the heart may also appear. Rheumatism c reads the most common and unpleasant complication of scarlet fever.
Glomerulonephritis- kidney damage. After recovery, the temperature rises to 39 °. Swelling and lower back pain appear. The urine becomes cloudy and decreases in quantity. In most cases streptococcal glomerulonephritis amenable to treatment and passes without a trace. But if you do not take action in time, it can develop renal failure.
Chorea- brain damage that occurs 2-3 weeks after recovery. The first manifestations: laughter and crying for no reason, restless sleep, absent-mindedness and forgetfulness. Later, uncontrolled movements in the limbs appear. They are fast and messy. Coordination, gait, speech are impaired. In some cases, the brain manages to compensate for the impaired function, in others the incoordination of movements remains for life.

Late complications after scarlet fever most often occur if the infectious disease was treated independently without antibiotics or the diagnosis was incorrect.

Prevention of complications is correct and timely treatment scarlet fever. At the first sign of illness, you should consult a doctor. Taking antibiotics, antiallergic drugs, and drinking plenty of fluids is reliable protection from complications.

Is scarlet fever contagious, ways of infection?

Scarlet fever is a contagious disease. In order to get sick with it, you need to communicate with a patient with angina, scarlet fever or a carrier of streptococcal infection. Also dangerous are people from the patient's environment who have acute tonsillitis, nasopharyngitis, bronchitis. Most often, they also secrete hemolytic streptococcus.

There are four mechanisms of infection:

Airborne- infection occurs when communicating with a patient or carrier. The disease is spreading rapidly in children's groups. When coughing, talking in the air, an aerosol is formed from small droplets of saliva containing the pathogen. When in contact with the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract of a healthy person, bacteria primarily colonize palatine tonsils(tonsils) and begin to produce toxin. Over time, they spread to surrounding tissues and regional lymph nodes.
Domestic- through household items that the patient used. Toys, dishes, linen can become a source of infection if saliva or mucous secretions of a sick person get on them. Although streptococcus somewhat loses its dangerous properties v environment, it can cause infection. This happens if a microorganism from things with dust enters the mouth or nose of a healthy person. The bacterium, finding itself in favorable conditions, attaches to the nasopharyngeal mucosa, begins to actively multiply and produce toxins. Therefore, it is so important to carry out the current disinfection in the room where he is and not to allow the sharing of his things.
Food (alimentary)- if bacteria get on it while cooking, then such a dish can become for them nutrient medium and a breeding site. Especially dangerous in this respect are dairy products that are not boiled and various jellies. When eating such food, the body immediately enters a large number of microorganisms. They linger on the nasopharyngeal mucosa and cause illness. That is why cooks and other kitchen workers pay so much attention to testing for bacterial carriers.
Through damaged skin- wounds, burns, damaged mucous membranes of the genital organs, the inner lining of the uterus after childbirth - can become an entrance gate for infection. Staphylococcus in this case does not multiply in the glands, but on the damaged tissue. This causes the rash to become concentrated around the wound and the nearby lymph nodes become inflamed.

Do I need to use antibiotics for scarlet fever?

Scarlet fever, one of the infections that are caused not by a virus, but by a bacterium. And if antibiotics do not affect the virus and cannot help a speedy recovery, then in this case the situation is different.

Antibiotic drugs effectively fight streptococcus. Within a day after the start of admission, it is possible to stop the spread of infection throughout the body. The bacteria die and stop releasing toxins. The patient feels much better. Therefore, antibiotics for scarlet fever are required. The choice of the drug depends on the severity of the disease:

at mild form- Prescribe penicillins and macrolides in tablets or suspensions for children: Erythromycin, Azimed, Azithromycin. Treatment period - 10 days
with a moderate form - penicillins in the form of intramuscular injections: Oxacillin for 10 days
in severe cases - cephalosporins I-II generations: Clindamycin, Vancomycin for 10-14 days. Intravenous

Thanks to antibacterial therapy managed to turn scarlet fever from deadly dangerous infection into a disease that is relatively easy. Antibiotics for scarlet fever make it possible to avoid the appearance of life-threatening complications. In addition, they make a person safe for others from an epidemic point of view. It stops being contagious.

How is scarlet fever treated?

With scarlet fever, it is imperative to observe bed rest for 3-7 days. Its duration depends on the patient's condition and the characteristics of the course of the disease.

In most cases, treatment takes place at home. The hospital is sent in such cases:

at severe course illness
children from orphanages and boarding schools
patients from families where there are people who work in children's preschool institutions, hospitals, trade workers and Catering, as well as other representatives of decreed professions
patients from families where there are children under 10 years old who have not had scarlet fever
if it is not possible to isolate the patient and organize care for him

Treatment for scarlet fever is based on taking antibiotics. But for a speedy recovery, an integrated approach is needed.

In parallel, other drugs are prescribed:

Antiallergic (antihistamines) drugs - to eliminate the manifestations of allergies and complications that may arise due to allergization of the body: Loratadin, Cetrin;
Antipyretic - to normalize the temperature and relieve headaches: Paracetamol, Ibuprofen;
Strengthening the vascular wall - to eliminate the effect of the toxin on the blood capillaries: Ascorutin, Galascorbin;
Means of local sanitation - preparations for cleansing the nasopharynx from bacteria: rinsing with Chlorophyllipt, Furacilin;
At grave condition the patient is administered intravenously saline solutions and glucose. This is necessary to maintain water-salt balance and the speedy elimination of toxins.

In order to quickly cure a sore throat with scarlet fever and cleanse the tonsils from streptococcus, physiotherapy is prescribed.

Irradiation of the tonsils with UV rays - they destroy the proteins of bacteria and cause their death.
Centimeter wave (CMW) tonsil therapy - treatment of tonsils with microwaves.
Magnetic laser therapy - improves blood circulation and provides increased activity immune cells.
UHF therapy - has an anti-inflammatory effect, accelerates healing.
KUF therapy - kills microorganisms, cleans the tonsils from plaque.

Diet for scarlet fever

The patient's nutrition should be aimed at maintaining the strength of the body, increasing the resistance to infection and reducing allergization. Food should be easy to digest. It must also be remembered that the sore throat is worse when swallowing. Therefore, the dishes should be semi-liquid and pureed. Doctors recommend therapeutic diet No. 13, which is assigned when infectious diseases... You need to eat often - 4-5 times a day, but the portions should be small.

Featured Products	Prohibited foods
Dried White bread	Fresh bread, muffins
Low-fat meat and fish broths, vegetable soups, slimy broths from cereals	Fatty broths, soups, borscht;
Low-fat varieties poultry, meat, fish	Fatty varieties meat, poultry, fish
Cottage cheese and lactic acid drinks	Smoked meats, sausage, salty fish, canned food
Mashed porridge from buckwheat, rice, semolina	Whole milk and cream, full-fat sour cream, hard cheeses
Potatoes, carrots, beets, cauliflower, ripe tomatoes	White cabbage, radish, radish, onion, garlic, cucumber, legumes
Ripe soft fruits and berries	Pasta, millet, pearl barley and barley grits
Fruit compotes, rosehip decoction, diluted juices	Chocolate, cakes, cocoa
Sugar, honey, jam, jam, marmalade

If there are no kidney complications, you need to drink 2-2.5 liters of fluid per day. This will help flush the toxin out of the body in the urine.

Herbal medicine and folk remedies will help alleviate the condition with scarlet fever. We offer some of the most effective recipes.

Gargle with decoctions of herbs. Chamomile, calendula, sage and eucalyptus are perfect for this purpose. Brew 2 tablespoons of one of the products with a glass of boiling water, let cool, strain.
Wash horseradish root and grind. Pour a liter of hot boiled water and leave for three hours. Use for rinsing 5-6 times a day.
Take half a glass of freshly squeezed beet juice, add a teaspoon of honey and apple cider vinegar and half a glass warm water... Use to rinse every two hours.
Pour half a glass of calendula flowers hot water and simmer in a water bath for 30 minutes. Allow to cool and apply in the form of lotions to the place of rashes.
Ginger powder and licorice. Mix in a ratio of one to one. Pour a tablespoon of the mixture with a glass of boiling water and leave to infuse for half an hour. Strain and drink in one go.
Grind a teaspoon of propolis and mix with a glass of milk. Warm up in a water bath for 15 minutes. Drink at night, after rinsing your throat.
Prepare citric acid solution. Dissolve a spoonful of the product in a glass of warm water and gargle every 1.5-2 hours and after meals. Citric acid inhibits streptococcus and accelerates recovery. You can also suck on lemon slices throughout the day.
Wash the parsley root well and chop or finely chop. Pour one tablespoon with a glass of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. Strain and drink 2-3 tablespoons 4 times a day.
Sour fruit and berry juices: lemon, cranberry, lingonberry - they perfectly strengthen the body and kill bacteria. You need to drink 2-3 glasses of juice or fruit drink per day. Drink warm in small sips after meals.

Should you be vaccinated against scarlet fever?

Today there is no specific vaccine against scarlet fever and other diseases caused by group A streptococcus.This is due to the fact that there great amount variants of these microorganisms. Pharmaceutical companies trying to develop a vaccine against scarlet fever. Today she passes clinical trials, but it is not on sale yet.

As a vaccine against scarlet fever, the following are sometimes used:

Intravenous polyspecific immunoglobulin G... This remedy is made from the blood of donors and is given to people in whom the body does not produce enough antibodies. Thus, passive immunity is ensured: proteins for protection against bacteria and toxins are not produced independently, but are introduced in a ready-made form.
Streptococcal toxoid. The drug is prepared from a weakened, detoxified Dick toxin. The agent causes the body to produce antibodies to staphylococci and their toxins. Increases the body's ability to fight infection and reduce intoxication during illness. Injected subcutaneously into the area of the scapula, if there was contact with the patient.
Polyvalent pyobacteriophage / sextaphage... It is taken orally 3 times a day for 1-2 weeks or used in the form of compresses. It helps to boost immunity and dissolves streptococci and other bacteria.

However, these drugs do not provide a 100% guarantee that infection will not occur. In addition, they have a fairly short period of action - from several weeks to one year. A contraindication to the use of these drugs may be hypersensitivity to their components. They can cause common allergic reactions, the most difficult of them - anaphylactic shock... Therefore, it is necessary that the person remains under medical supervision for an hour after the administration of the drug.

The main role in the prevention of scarlet fever remains the general strengthening of the immune system. Good nutrition rich in protein foods and vitamins, physical activity and hardening of the body. These measures will help protect the body from streptococcal infections and other diseases.