Parents are warned by doctors to be extra careful and pay attention to the symptoms of scarlet fever, as unfortunately, this infection has now reached its peak.
It is most common in children between the age of two and eight, and its most common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Rashes
- A sore throat
- "˜'strawberry tongue''
The Public Health England reported that the number of cases of this infection has doubled since the beginning of 2018.
There were 735 cases of scarlet fever in the UK on January 28, which is the largest one-week outbreak since April 2017. This infection usually occurs in the winter or spring, but it is expected that it will plummet this year.
During the Victorian era, the scarlet fever was very common and exceptionally deadly, mostly due to the poor hygiene. In the late 1800s and at the start of the 1900s, it killed thousands of people.
However, it is less dangerous nowadays, due to the modern antibiotics, but it is a fact that the cases of infected people have skyrocketed again since 2015. Many people believe that this is a result of the aggressive strain.
Namely, streptococcus, the bacteria that causes strep throat, begins to release a toxin, that leads to scarlet fever. Soon, rashes start to appear on the chest, face, back, and neck of the child, which look like a sunburn, and start to peel after the sixth day.
These are the most common signs of this infection:
- Red rashes
- A sore throat
- Itchy skin
- Abdominal pain
- Flushed face
- High fever (101°F)
- Swollen neck glands
It is contagious, so if your child gets infected, make sure it remains home for at least 10 days.
Yet, consult your doctor to prescribe proper treatment and antibiotics to adequately treat the infection/ To avoid complications to the kidneys, heart, and other organs, you need to take care of the bacteria.
To accelerate the healing process, you can use the following natural remedies:
Apple cider Vinegar Tonic
Mix some apple cider vinegar with a bit of cayenne pepper in a glass of warm water, and drink it to treat the infection and soothe a sore throat. You can also relieve the rashes by applying some apple cider vinegar on a cotton cloth.
Humidifiers and Water Vapor
The dry air hurts a sore throat, even more, so use humidifiers, water vapor, or some essential oils to relieve the inflammation.
Plenty of Fluids
Your child needs to drink plenty of fluids in order to be adequately hydrated, to soothe a sore throat, and accelerate the recovery process.
Berry and Mint Remedy
Add some raw organic honey, mint leaves, and raspberry to a glass of hot water, and drink twice daily to soothe a sore throat.
Warm Soups and Drinks
To accelerate the healing process and strengthen the immune system of the child, you should prepare some warm soups, soft foods, and teas.
Lavender Oil
This oil contains linalool, which hydrates the skin and treats the itchiness. You can mix with some carrier oil, like coconut, olive, or almond oil, and apply it to the affected areas.
Avoid smoking
Avoid smoking around your child, as it needs to breathe clean and fresh air.
Clip the Child's Nails
Children usually scratch the itchy areas on the skin, so make sure you clip their nails to prevent additional damage to the skin.
Therefore, despite the antibiotic treatment, our child needs to heal in a healthy and clean environment, consume healthy foods, and drink plenty of fluids, to be able to recover soon.
The post Scarlet Fever Is Back and Here Are the Warning Signs You Need to Look Out For appeared first on Healthy Life Box.
