SCARLET FEVER

From person to person

The bacteria are usually located in the throat area. When speaking, coughing or sneezing, the pathogens will enter the air through tiny saliva droplets and settle in the contact person‘s mucous membrane when inhaled. The scarlet fever bacteria may enter a person‘s body without them getting ill themselves. However, they can pass the bacteria on to others.

Via hands or contaminated objects

The disease can also be transmitted via hands or by shared objects such as cutlery or toys if pathogens adhere to them.

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

• A throat infection with a fever and a rash should be examined by a doctor.
• Scarlet fever can be treated with antibiotics. This reduces the contagious period. It is important to follow the recommended time for taking the antibiotics, even if the symptoms improve before that.
• Sufferers should limit contact with other people as much as possible for the duration of the contagious period.
• Soft food such as porridge or soup can help make swallowing easier.
• It is important to drink a lot if you have a fever. It is best to drink water, diluted juices or herbal teas.
• Keep as much distance as possible from others when coughing or sneezing and turn away from them. Do not cough or sneeze into your hand but into disposable tissues or the crook of your arm. Tissues should be disposed of immediately into a waste container with a lid.
• Important: Wash your hands thoroughly on a regular basis with soap and water.
• The regulations set out in the German Protection against Infection Act apply in the case of scarlet fever. People with scarlet fever or suspected of having scarlet fever must not attend community facilities such as schools or nurseries for some time. Parents must inform the facility about their child’s illness.
• People who work in community facilities, such as teachers or preschool teachers, must not work where they come into contact with children in their care if they have scarlet fever or are suspected of having it while they are contagious.
• The doctor treating them or the responsible 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.

• If possible, avoid contact with people who are still contagious.
• Wash your hands thoroughly on a regular basis with soap and water to avoid contact infection.
• Preventive treatment of contact persons with antibiotics is usually not necessary. It is recommended only for people at particular risk who suffer from severe underlying diseases or have a weak immune system.

There is no vaccination against scarlet fever.

Your local health authority can provide you with further advice. It has information on the latest situation and a wealth of experience in dealing with the disease.

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).