Long feared because of the many complications to which it gives rise, scarlet fever is now much better treated thanks to the evolution of medical research. It is interesting to note that this pathology mainly affects children aged between 3 and 12 years old and much more rarely infants or adults. More common in autumn and early winter, this disease occurs following the inhalation of small drops of saliva from an already infected individual, for example when he or she sneezes. Finally, it is important to know that scarlet fever results from the diffusion of bacterial toxin by group A streptococci within the body.
Symptoms of scarlet fever
Depending on the stage of the disease, scarlet fever can manifest itself in various ways. After the incubation period, which usually lasts between 2 and 5 days, the affected person suffers from headaches, shivering and may even vomit. He also suffers from sore throats, especially since his tonsils are swollen and coated with a kind of yellowish plaque, which then makes swallowing particularly difficult. At this stage, the patient also has a swollen cervical lymph node.
The next day, small red pustules appear on the skin and, unlike measles, these do not disappear under the effect of pressure. These pustules are mainly located in the groin, legs, arms and torso, but they can affect all parts of the body. The chin and the rim of the mouth remain quite pale.
Finally, the taste buds begin to swell and the tongue takes on a characteristic raspberry appearance. After a few days, the fever disappears and the rash loses its bright color before the skin finally peels. A recurrence then occurs after about twenty days, accompanied by the first symptoms of scarlet fever.
What homeopathic treatments should be adopted in case of scarlet fever?
If the patient has a fever but his temperature does not reach 40ºC, Ferrum Phosphoricum 4 CH should be administered every hour, especially if the eardrums of the patient are affected. If the patient has a fever, suffers from intense thirst and has difficulty swallowing food, then it will be necessary to give him 1 dose of Bellodonna 5 CH every hour. When it has uvula oedema, the most appropriate remedy is Apis Mellifica 5 CH, taken once every hour.
When to see a doctor?
If scarlet fever is not treated in time or if symptoms persist despite treatment, it is imperative to consult a doctor. It should be noted that scarlet fever can cause inflammation of the meninges, the middle ear and, if the disease becomes complicated, can affect the heart muscles, causing tachycardia, i.e. an acceleration of the heart rate. In this case, the disease can lead to rheumatic fever which requires emergency medical treatment.
