SCARLET FEVER

Person-to-person

Every fifth to tenth person carriers the scarlet fever pathogens without falling ill. Nevertheless, these persons can pass on the bacteria to others. The pathogens are usually located in the area of the throat. When speaking, coughing or sneezing, the pathogens will enter the air through tiny spittle droplets and adhere to the contact person's mucous membrane when inhaled.

Via contaminated objects

Extremely rarely, people will catch scarlet fever through shared objects such as cutlery or toys if the pathogens are adhering to them.

Anyone can contract scarlet fever. It is most common among children who attend a day nursery or school.

• Always have throat inflammation with fever and skin rash examined by a doctor.
• Scarlet fever is usually treated with antibiotics. This reduces the contagious period and reduces complications. Always observe the recommended time for taking them, even if your symptoms improve before that. If you discontinue therapy early, there may be relapses or late consequences.
• Stay in bed while contagious and limit contact to others where possible.
• Warm drinks and soft food such as mashes or soups make swallowing easier.
• Drink a lot, particularly if you have a fever. It is best to drink water, diluted juices or herbal teas.
• To not pass on the pathogens, keep a distance from others when coughing and sneezing or turn away from them. Do not cough and sneeze into your palm but into disposable tissues or, in an emergency, into your bent elbow. Dispose of tissues in a waste container with a lid at once.
• Important: Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with water and soap!
• Children and teens with scarlet fever or where this has been suspected, must not attend community facilities such as schools or nurseries for some time. Parents must inform the facility of the child's illness.
• Persons working in community facilities, e.g. teachers or preschool teachers, must not work where they come into contact with children in their care if they have scarlet fever or are suspect of having it while they are contagious.
• The doctor or the relevant health authority will decide when they can start working or attending the community facility again. This is usually on the second day after receiving antibiotics, and otherwise after the end of the symptoms. A medical certificate is not required.

• Avoid contact with patients who are still contagious.
• Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with water and soap to avoid contact infection.
• Preventive treatment of contact persons with antibiotics usually is not necessary. It is only recommended for particularly endangered persons who have severe underlying diseases or are immune-compromised.
• There is no vaccination against scarlet fever.

Your local health authority can provide you with further advice. You will find more information on the current situation and great experience in handling of diseases there.

More (specialist) information is also available online from the Robert Koch Institute (www.rki.de/scharlach).

For more information on how hygiene can guard against infection, please visit the Federal Centre for Health Education website (www.infektionsschutz.de).