eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Bacterial Infections

Scarlet Fever: Follow-up

Author: Edward J Zabawski Jr, DO, RPh, Dermatologist, Spencer Dermatology Group
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Apr 28, 2009

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

  • Follow-up evaluation is recommended to ensure resolution of the primary infection. Some patients report pruritus associated with the desquamating rash. Oral antihistamines and emollients usually are sufficient to control the pruritus.

Complications

  • A number of serious complications may develop as a consequence of streptococcal infection. Otitis media, pneumonia, septicemia, osteomyelitis, rheumatic fever, and acute glomerulonephritis are the most common. Appropriate evaluation and early intervention with antibiotics are essential to prevent these disorders.

Prognosis

  • When identified in a timely fashion, the prognosis is excellent. Most patients recover after 4-5 days, with resolution of skin symptoms over several weeks.

Patient Education

 


More on Scarlet Fever

Overview: Scarlet Fever
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Scarlet Fever
Treatment & Medication: Scarlet Fever
Follow-up: Scarlet Fever
Multimedia: Scarlet Fever
References

References

  1. Dong H, Xu G, Li S, et al. Beta-haemolytic group A streptococci emm75 carrying altered pyrogenic exotoxin A linked to scarlet fever in adults. J Infect. Apr 2008;56(4):261-7. [Medline].

  2. Yang SG, Dong HJ, Li FR, Xie SY, Cao HC, Xia SC, et al. Report and analysis of a scarlet fever outbreak among adults through food-borne transmission in China. J Infect. Nov 2007;55(5):419-24. [Medline].

  3. Cunningham MW. Pathogenesis of group A streptococcal infections. Clin Microbiol Rev. Jul 2000;13(3):470-511. [Medline].

  4. Sandrini J, Beucher AB, Kouatchet A, Lavigne C. [Scarlet fever with multisystem organ failure and hypertrophic gastritis.]. Rev Med Interne. May 2009;30(5):456-9. [Medline].

  5. Gomez-Carrasco JA, Lassaletta A, Ruano D. [Acute hepatitis may form part of scarlet fever]. An Pediatr (Barc). Apr 2004;60(4):382-3. [Medline].

  6. Guven A. Hepatitis and hematuria in scarlet fever. Indian J Pediatr. Nov 2002;69(11):985-6. [Medline].

  7. Lau SK, Woo PC, Yuen KY. Toxic scarlet fever complicating cellulitis: early clinical diagnosis is crucial to prevent a fatal outcome. New Microbiol. Apr 2004;27(2):203-6. [Medline].

  8. Leslie DL, Kozma L, Martin A, et al. Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated With Streptococcal Infection: A Case-Control Study Among Privately Insured Children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. Aug 21 2008;[Medline].

  9. Gaston DA, Zurowski SM. Arcanobacterium haemolyticum pharyngitis and exanthem. Three case reports and literature review. Arch Dermatol. Jan 1996;132(1):61-4. [Medline].

  10. Sanz JC, Bascones Mde L, Martin F, Saez-Nieto JA. [Recurrent scarlet fever due to recent reinfection caused by strains unrelated to Streptococcus pyogenes.]. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. Jun-Jul 2005;23(6):388-9. [Medline].

  11. Swartz MN, Weinberg AN. Infections due to Gram-Positive Bacteria. In: Dermatology in General Medicine. Vol 2. 4th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1993:2318-20.

Further Reading

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Edward J Zabawski Jr, DO, RPh, Dermatologist, Spencer Dermatology Group
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Craig A Elmets, MD, Director of Dermatology, Departments of Dermatology, Pathology, and Environmental Health Sciences; Professor, The Kirklin Clinic, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Craig A Elmets, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Association of Immunologists, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: Palomar Medical Technologies Stock None; Amgen Consulting fee Review panel membership; Astellas Consulting fee Review panel membership; Massachusetts Medical Society Salary Employment; Abbott Laboratories Grant/research funds Independent contractor

Pharmacy Editor

Richard P Vinson, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA
Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Lester F Libow, MD, Dermatopathologist, South Texas Dermatopathology Laboratory
Lester F Libow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE, Medical Director, Clinical Studies Unit, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Associate Scholar, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania
Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE is a member of the following medical societies: Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: AMGEN Consulting fee Consulting; AMGEN Grant/research funds Investigator; Genentech Grant/research funds investigator; Centocor Consulting fee Consulting; Abbott Grant/research funds investigator; Abbott Consulting fee Consulting; Novartis  investigator; Pfizer Grant/research funds investigator; Celgene Consulting fee DMC Chair; NIAMS and NHLBI Grant/research funds investigator

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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