This is a joint statement from Health and Social Services and the Education Department
MEDIA ENQUIRY
FROM: Elisabeth Mahy, BBC
DATE: 18 March 2016
SUBJECT: Scarlet Fever
QUESTION:
I've been made aware from a primary school parent that there are a number of cases of scarlet fever at the school.
Have there been many cases of the illness reported in Guernsey recently?
Response: There has been an increase in the notification of cases of scarlet fever to the Medical Officer of Health over usual levels, with eight cases notified in the last ten days. The vast majority of cases notified are in children aged 4 to 9 years old.
Is it more common among primary school children?
Response: It is most common between 2 and 8 years old, with four year olds the most likely to develop the illness. The disease is much less common in adults.
How can parents protect their children from scarlet fever?
Response: Scarlet fever is highly contagious. The bacteria are present in the throat, mouth and nose of the infected person and are spread by contact with that person's mucus or saliva. The bacteria may be present on cups, plates, pens, or surfaces that have been touched by someone carrying the bacteria. It can also be spread by breathing infected airborne droplets from coughing and sneezing.
To protect yourself and others from catching the infection you should:
Wash your hands often
Not share eating utensils with an infected person
Wash or dispose of handkerchiefs and tissues contaminated by an infected person
Be aware that you can catch scarlet fever by inhaling airborne droplets if someone with the illness coughs or sneezes near you
Children and adults should be encouraged to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough and sneeze and to wash their hands after using or disposing of tissues.
Schools, nurseries and childcare settings should embed good hand hygiene practice within daily routines for pupils and staff and alert the MoH if an outbreak of scarlet fever is suspected.
What are the symptoms?
Response:
The first symptoms of scarlet fever, often include a sore throat, headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. After 12 to 48 hours the characteristic fine red rash develops (it you touch it, it feels like sandpaper). Typically it first appears on the chest and stomach, rapidly spreading to other parts of the body. On more darkly-pigmented skin the scarlet rash may be harder to spot, although the sandpiper feel should be present. See http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Scarlet-fever/Pages/Introduction.aspx for a picture of the rash
Fever over 38.3 deg C or higher is common
White coating on the tongue, which peels a few days later, leaving the tongue looking red and swollen (known as strawberry tongue)
Swollen glands in the neck
Feeling tired and unwell
Flushed red face, but pale around the mouth. The flushed face may appear more sunburnt on darker skin
Peeling skin on the fingertips, toes and groin area as the rash fades.
What is the treatment?
Response:
Ten day course of antibiotics - early treatment of scarlet fever with an appropriate antibiotic remains essential, especially given the potential complications associated with group A streptococcal infections
Children should not return to nursery or school, and adults to work until a minimum of 24 hours after taking antibiotics.
If you have a high temperature you should drink plenty of fluids
Paracetamol or ibuprofen can bring down your temperature and relieve discomfort
Is scarlet fever on the rise?
Response: Typically there are seasonal rises in scarlet fever between December and April each year.
There has been an increase in local notifications of scarlet fever over background since 2012. So far 19 cases have been notified this year.
The reasons behind this increase are unclear but may reflect the long-term natural cycles in disease incidence seen in many types of infection.
Stephen Bridgman, Medical Officer of Health, 18th March 2016
ENDS
