Today’s blog was written by Harford Magazine Editor Jennifer Dansicker:
When most of us think of Scarlett fever, we recall poor sickly Beth March from the classic Louisa May Alcott novel “Little Women.”
So when my husband called me this past weekend as I was enjoying a little girl time in New York City for my birthday and told me that our pediatrician diagnosed our 6-year-old Henry with Scarlett fever, I was immediately shocked and panicked. Seconds later, my husband assured me that Henry was put on an antibiotic and that his recovery would most likely be swift and painless.
In the 1800s, those suffering from the disease were taken away in horse driven “fever cabs” and kept in isolation hospitals for weeks to prevent the infection from spreading. As an added precaution, all personal belongings burned.
And once a patient was diagnosed as having Scarlet fever, common treatment was followed by a period of blood letting. It was common for doctors to use a surgical knife to bleed a child until the lips and cheeks became pale and the child fainted.
Scarlet fever used to be a very serious childhood disease in children under the age of 10, but now it is easily treatable. As is usually the case, Henry had a 103 fever, a full body rash and tested positive for streptococcus. The combination of those three factors equaled a diagnosis of Scarlett fever.
After 36 hours of the antibiotic amoxicillin, Henry’s rash and fever had disappeared and he was back at school, healthy and happy.
I’d be further concerned about where/whom he contracted Scarlett Fever from? Where there’s one case, obviously more will follow since the child was exposed somehow/somewhere. Surely he can’t have been the only one infected. I hope the doc is following this closely and researching in efforts to find the source. We simply can’t afford to overlook this contagious disease that could well become another epidemic. As for the mother, I’d be conducting research non-stop and badgering the doctor for answers. It sounds as if she’s blown off the disease and hasn’t taken it very seriously.
My daughter had Scarlet Fever as a baby. It is the same virus that causes strep throat in adults. If you catch it right away, it is easily treated with antibiotics. There is no need to panic.