Scarlet Fever

[Goodfella]

Much to my amazement and somewhat despair, my 8 year old daughter has just contracted scarlet fever, which i thought didn't really exist anymore, anyway my point is without scaremongering,to warn other parents, as the symptons are similar to other airborn diseases, such as measles.

She started complaining of feeling unwell, had a temp and a sore throat, she was then sick several times on the first day, the second day a rash appeared that resembled sunburn on her upper body and arms,it wasn't raised but felt like fine sandpaper, and was extremely hot to the touch, having discovered the rash i looked on the internet and thought the symptons resembled scarlet fever, so i phoned the emergency doctor as this was saturday, he told me that it WASN'T scarlet fever. Unhappy with this, i took her to accident and emergency dept at the sussex, after tests and 6 hours later, we were told it WAS scarlet fever and that she would have to stay overnight for fear of it developing into meningitis, and further complications.

Thank god she was given the all clear and let out next morning with a course of antibiotics, she is now recovering at home, and all is well.


I hope this is an isolated case, as i certainly havn't heard of any more cases in the surrounding area.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I contracted scarlet fever in Canada when I was less than 1. True story.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Children are more prone to these diseases as the number of children being inoculated falls and so the risk increases. Immunization against MMR in Eastern Europe is even less so childern of economic migrants living in the UK can be more susceptible.

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

I had it when i was about 8 - nasty illness.

 

[eastlondonseagull]

Hope she gets better soon, Goodfella. My one-year-old kept came down with a nasty measles-like illness about six months ago, and we were really worried about him. Turned out it was a reaction to the antibiotic he'd been put on for his conjunctivitis.

But what I found ridiculous was that we were told there was no test for measles. We just had to send a swab off to the lab weeks after he'd got better. They would then log a 'yes' or 'no' to measles on the system. What's that all about?! Surely they can diagnose measles in this day and age?!

 

[Goodfella]

Hope she gets better soon, Goodfella. My one-year-old kept came down with a nasty measles-like illness about six months ago, and we were really worried about him. Turned out it was a reaction to the antibiotic he'd been put on for his conjunctivitis.

But what I found ridiculous was that we were told there was no test for measles. We just had to send a swab off to the lab weeks after he'd got better. They would then log a 'yes' or 'no' to measles on the system. What's that all about?! Surely they can diagnose measles in this day and age?!

Thank you, she is fine now it kinda went as quick as it came, after she started taking the antibiotics.

and yes, that is rather ridiculous.

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

But what I found ridiculous was that we were told there was no test for measles. We just had to send a swab off to the lab weeks after he'd got better. They would then log a 'yes' or 'no' to measles on the system. What's that all about?! Surely they can diagnose measles in this day and age?!

I'm no expert, but i think that the test shows the level of antibodies which the body produces in the infection - and these are highest a period of time after the infection. It's like to diagnose a heart attack, you test troponin levels 12 hours after the chest pain.

 

[Al Bion]

But what I found ridiculous was that we were told there was no test for measles. We just had to send a swab off to the lab weeks after he'd got better. They would then log a 'yes' or 'no' to measles on the system. What's that all about?! Surely they can diagnose measles in this day and age?!

I know that it sounds crazy but I think it might be because measles is now a notifiable disease so they have to be sure someone has it. If too many children in a certain area are diagnosed within a short space of time (as happened recently near me) they have to let parents know so they can have their child immunised if they haven't been already. They had mass immunisations at all the schools in my area recently because of an outbreak.

Hope your daughter is well again soon Goodfella.

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

But what I found ridiculous was that we were told there was no test for measles. We just had to send a swab off to the lab weeks after he'd got better. They would then log a 'yes' or 'no' to measles on the system. What's that all about?! Surely they can diagnose measles in this day and age?!

There is a diagnostic test for measles - just requires a saliva swab. I'd query it with your GP (assuming that's where you got the initial advice from), he/she might learn something.

Measles - Overview - Diagnosis

 

[Stoichkov]

I hope this is an isolated case, as i certainly havn't heard of any more cases in the surrounding area.

Last year my girlfriend got it. Came out in a full-on rash that matched the symptoms of scarlet fever went to her doctors - who sent her away saying she must be allergic to something!

She got a fair bit worse with a full-on fever, called the NHS direct line - they were having none of it either.

Covered in the rash, and disparing at this point, she went back to her doctor who still did not diagnose it as scarlet fever. In the end, after a few days the rash went and she started feeling better.

I know of three other people (2 adults, 1 child) who also had it last year in Brighton. I think because its been rare in the recent past, doctors don't diagnose it properly.

 

[Springal]

Emergency doctor not coming out at weekend suprise suprise.

Has anyone got anything GOOD to say about GP's nowadays, and out of hours? My girlfriend had an abcess type lump that developed on her lower back within 72 hours and she was in tremendous pain [in tears as she couldn't sleep for the pain.] Doctor would NOT come out for it, in the end went to A+E where she was admitted for 2 nights where they operated and removed, she was then off work for almost 3 months and had to have the dressing changed by duty nurse DAILY....