A doctor who recently treated a boy infected with scarlet fever says it's a common childhood illness caused by Group A Streptococcus, and that it mainly affects children between 5 and 15 years old.
Symptoms of this contagious disease include a sore throat, fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and a characteristic rash. The tongue may be red and bumpy, hence the nickname "strawberry tongue."
Doctors say there is no vaccine for scarlet fever, but the disease is treatable with antibiotics, which reduce symptoms and spread, and prevent most complications.
Outcomes with scarlet fever are typically good if treated, but because its symptoms are quite similar to those of the common cold, doctors emphasize the importance of early and accurate diagnosis.
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