Fact sheets

Scarlet fever fact sheet (PDF 400KB)

Public Health action

• Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic. Therapeutic Guidelines Limited: Melbourne
  
• Communicable Disease Guidelines, for teachers, child care workers, local government authorities and medical practitioners. Department of Health, Western Australia
  

Additional sources of information

• Control of Communicable Diseases Manual

Exclusion

Cases: exclude from school/day care until the person has received antibiotic treatment for at least 24 hours, and feels well.
Contacts: do not exclude.

Definition

Isolation of group A beta-haemolytic Streptococci in the presence of a clinically compatible illness
OR

High ASOT and/or anti-DNase B titres in the presence of a clinically compatible illness.

Clinical picture

The clinical manifestation of scarlet fever consists of streptococcal pharyngitis and a diffuse pink-red cutaneous flush that blanches on pressure. The rash is seen best on the abdomen, lateral chest and in cutaneous folds. Characteristic manifestations of the disease include ‘strawberry tongue’ and circumoral pallor. During convalescence there is desquamation of the skin of the fingers and toes.