What happens when you don't treat Scarlet fever?

Does it just go away by it's self or does it get worse?

Scarlet fever is a disease caused by a bacteria called group A streptococcus, the same bacteria that causes strep throat. The term scarlet fever refers to the rash that sometimes occurs in people that have strep throat.

Most group A strep infections are relatively mild illnesses such as strep throat or impetigo. Sometimes group A strep infections can go on to cause severe illnesses such as necrotizing faciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.

In 0.5-3% of cases after group A streptococcal pharyngitis has been diagnosed, people will go on to have acute rheumatic fever with chorea, carditis, subcutaneous nodules, erythema marginatum, and migratory polyarthritis.

Of these symptoms, carditis causes the most severe clinical manifestation because heart valves can be permanently damaged. The disorder also can involve the pericardium, myocardium, and the free borders of valve cusps. Death or total disability may occur years after the initial presentation of carditis.

The goal in treating group A strep pharyngitis is to prevent acute rheumatic fever.

Hope this helps.

It can go into rheumatic fever and damage your heart valves. It is time for medical attention.

Yep- what Jude2918 said...and simple antibiotic treatment usually will take care of it, so it should be treated as soon as possible.

Have a blessed day :-)

scarlet fever is a complication from untreated strept infection.
you should get an antibiotic... this is on my micrbiology final!

signs: sunburn red skin, swollen skin, it gets rough and peels, also a high fever, that is why it is called scarlet fever

Rheumatic fever is also from untreated strept infection but it effects your heart, causes enlarged heart and chf...but it is different from scarlet fever.

You end up with Mitral valve problems.