Anyone know much about scarlet fever?

I took my 3 and a half month old baby to the hospital today and thats what the dr said he had, I am still not quite clear on what exactly it is and how he got it.Any imput would be appriciated. Thank You.

If your child has scarlet fever, he or she may experience these common signs and symptoms:

* Red rash that looks like a sunburn and feels like sandpaper
* Red lines (Pastia's lines) in folds of skin around the groin, armpits, elbows, knees and neck
* Strawberry-like red and bumpy appearance of the tongue, often covered with a white coating early in the disease
* Flushed face with paleness around the mouth
* Fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, often with chills
* Very sore and red throat, sometimes with white or yellowish patches
* Difficulty swallowing
* Enlarged glands in the neck (lymph nodes) that are tender to the touch
* Nausea or vomiting
* Headache

The sore throat, enlarged lymph nodes and fever are likely to appear first, while the "scarlet" signs and symptoms of scarlet fever usually appear on the second day of illness. If your child has scarlet fever, the rash will most likely begin on his or her chest and spread to the neck, trunk, arms and legs. The rash won't appear on your child's face, palms of the hands or soles of the feet.

The rash and the redness in the face and tongue usually last about a week. After these scarlet fever symptoms have subsided, the skin affected by the rash often peels.

A bacterium called Streptococcus pyogenes, or group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus causes scarlet fever. This is the same bacterial infection that causes strep throat, but the strain of bacteria causing scarlet fever releases toxins that produce the rash, Pastia's lines, flushed face and red tongue.

Strep bacteria that cause scarlet fever spread from one person to another by fluids from the mouth and nose. If an infected person coughs or sneezes, the bacteria can become airborne, or the bacteria may be present on things the person touches 鈥?a drinking glass or a doorknob. If you're in proximity to an infected person, you may inhale airborne bacteria. If you touch something an infected person has touched and then touch your own nose or mouth, you could pick up the bacteria.

The incubation period 鈥?the time between exposure and illness 鈥?is usually two to four days. If scarlet fever isn't treated, a person may be contagious for a few weeks even after the illness itself has passed. And someone may carry scarlet fever strep bacteria without being sick. Therefore, it's difficult to know if you've been exposed.

Scarlet fever strep bacteria can also contaminate food, especially milk, but this mode of transmission isn't as common.

You can take a number of steps to reduce your child's discomfort and pain.

* Treat fever and pain. Consult your doctor about using ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to control the fever and minimize throat pain. You may also put a lukewarm cloth on your child's forehead to cool the fever if he or she doesn't have chills.
* Provide adequate fluids. Give your child plenty of water to keep the throat moist and prevent dehydration.
* Prepare a saltwater gargle. If your child is able to gargle water, give him or her salty water to gargle and then spit out. This may ease the throat pain.
* Humidify the air. Use a cool-air humidifier to eliminate dry air that may further irritate a sore throat.
* Offer lozenges. Children older than age 4 can suck on lozenges to relieve a sore throat.
* Provide comforting foods. Warm liquids such as soup and cold treats like popsicles can soothe a sore throat.
* Avoid irritants. Keep your home free from cigarette smoke and cleaning products that can irritate the throat.

it's advanced strep infection, it comes from having an untreated strep infection and it's serious so get it treated

Look here for a full explaination http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art....

I had it an it sucks major!!! You get a rash that itches and is sore at the same time. Also u have a really high fever and your throat is extremely sore. It is hard to talk or swallow, much like strep throat except its all the way down and in your mouth. Your body aches and u get incredible hot flashes. i was 12 when I had it, but with a baby it could be different. I didn't have to have an IV...the Doc let me stay home, but It did lat about a week.

Look under scarlet fever on yahoo, it explains all. Good luck hope he gets better soon!

http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic518....

My grandfather had it when he was 5 years-old and it damaged his heart, so make sure, before your son signs up to play any sports when he gets older, that you get his heart checked. My grandpa couldn't play any sports.

i had scarlet fever when i was in my twenties. at first i went to the doctor because i didn't feel good and i had a high fever. he diagnosed me with scarlet fever. several hours later when i was home i guess my fever must have went higher because i started to hallutionate. i had a rash and fever for several days and then my whole body peeled like with a sunburn. i peeled from my hairline to my toenails. it was unpleasant for a while but i cam through without any damage. i hope your baby does well. just keep him hydrated, take his medicine and let him rest.