Meliden mum shares early warning signs after son catches scarlet fever

Katie Roy, of Meliden, said her the first sign her son David had was a sore throat [on the morning of Sunday, December 4]. By lunchtime, he was complaining of stomach ache and vomiting. 

Katie added: "Sunday night he spiked his first temperature of 40 degrees and developed a cold/cough. I gave him Ibuprofen and Paracetamol regularly, which brought his temperature down everytime.

"On Monday, I took him to see the GP. He said, apart from his throat being slightly red and having a temperature, he couldn't find anything else so said it was viral but I was asked to bring him back if I had any further concerns or if he deteriorated.

David's tongue looked like a strawberry with a white coating. (Image: Katie Roy.)

"On Monday night, it became clear that Paracetamol was not working and David's temperature was not coming down. Only the Ibuprofen was working.

"David was also crying at times due to the pain in his throat.

"On Tuesday morning I looked in David's mouth to see if his throat was swollen and I noticed his tongue looked like a strawberry with a white coating. I rang doctors and the Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) saw him straight away. She said his left ear had become very red, his tonsils had started to become gunky and the distinctive strawberry tongue was there, together with his temperature. She diagnosed Scarlet Fever and started him on antibiotics for 10 days."

Fortunately David's fever has subsided. 

Katie said: "He is looking much better but his tongue is starting to peel and David is saying its painful. He still has a bad cough.

"If he is well in himself school said he can return tomorrow, 24-hours after starting antibiotics and no temperature.

"He's had no rash."

According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), cases of scarlet fever are higher than typically seen at this time of year – 851 cases were reported between November 14-20, compared to an average of 186 for the preceding years.

Public Health Wales confirmed a number of deaths from iGAS, a rare complication of group A streptococcal infection.

In most cases, infection with streptococcal A causes scarlet fever, usually a mild illness, but it is highly infectious. The infection mostly affects young children and it is treated with antibiotics.

According to the NHS, the first signs of scarlet fever can be flu-like symptoms, including a high temperature, a sore throat and swollen neck glands (a large lump on the side of the neck). A rash appears 12 to 48 hours later. It looks looks like small, raised bumps and starts on the chest and tummy, then spreads. The rash makes the skin feel rough, like sandpaper.

Dr Graham Brown, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control for Public Health Wales, said: “While we understand that parents are likely to be worried by reports they are seeing related to iGAS, the condition remains rare.

“Cold and flu like symptoms are very common at this time of year, especially in children.  Most will have a common seasonal virus, which can be treated by keeping the child hydrated, and with paracetamol.

“Some children with cold and flu like symptoms - sore throat, headache, fever - may be experiencing some of the early symptoms of scarlet fever, which also circulates at this time of year.  These children will go on to develop scarlet fever specific symptoms, including a fine pink-red rash that feels like sandpaper to touch, and parents should contact their GP.

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“While scarlet fever is more concerning, it is still usually a mild illness from which most children will recover without complications, especially if the condition is properly treated with antibiotics.

“In very rare cases, group A streptococcal infection can cause iGAS, a rare complication which affects fewer than 20 children in Wales each year.  Although iGAS is a worrying condition, the majority of these children will recover with proper treatment.

“The best thing that parents can do is to provide the care they would usually provide for a child with cold and flu like symptoms, but to familiarise themselves with the symptoms of scarlet fever and iGAS as a precaution.

“It is also important that children from two years upwards are protected from seasonal flu, and have the vaccine.”

Symptoms of scarlet fever

• Sore throat
• Headache 
• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting. This is followed by a fine red rash, which typically first appears on the chest and stomach, rapidly spreading to other parts of the body. Older children may not have the rash. On more darkly pigmented skin, the scarlet rash may be harder to spot, but it should feel like 'sandpaper'.  The face can be flushed red but pale around the mouth.

Parents who suspect their child has symptoms of scarlet fever are advised that they should: Contact their GP, visit 111.wales.nhs.uk, or call NHS 111 Wales as soon as possible; Make sure their child takes the full course of any antibiotics prescribed by the doctor; Keep their child at home, away from nursery, school or work and follow any guidance provided by their GP on how long they should remain absent from these settings.

Symptoms of iGAS

• Fever (a high temperature above 38°C)
• Severe muscle aches
• Localised muscle tenderness
• Redness at the site of a wound.

Parents are being advised to contact their GP or get medical advice straight away if they think their child has any of the signs and symptoms of iGAS disease.