Scarlet Fever Once Again On The Rise In UK

England’s health agency on Wednesday warned parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of scarlet fever as infections continue to soar nationwide.

Nick Phin, deputy director at Public Health England disclosed that between mid-September and the week ending March 18, more than 15,370 cases of the age-old killer were reported to Public Health England.

“Greater awareness and improved reporting practices may have contributed to this increase,” he said.

Identified by a bright red rash that looks and feels like sandpaper, scarlet fever is a highly contagious disease caused by the same bacteria behind strep throat, group A Streptococcus pyogenes.

Public Health England is advising parents to be on the lookout for these symptoms, as if caught early, the illness is mild and can be treated with antibiotics.

Early treatment can also reduce the chances of complications, such a pneumonia, and prevent the spread of infection.

“We are monitoring the situation closely and remind parents to be aware of the symptoms of scarlet fever and to contact their (family physician) for assessment if they think their child might have it,” Phin said in a statement.

“It is a very contagious disease and much more common in children under 10 than teenagers or adults,” said Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners in the UK.

“Scarlet fever used to be a lot more common than it is now, but GPs are noticing more cases than in previous years at the moment,” she added.

In recent years, England has seen a surge in cases, with cases tripling in 2014 from the seasonal average of 4,700 in 2013 to 15,637 in 2014, a recent study found.

Infections continued to rise to nearly 20,000 in 2016, a 50-year high for the United Kingdom, according to the analysis.

The health agency is also pushing family physicians, pediatricians and other health practitioners to be aware of the infection when assessing patients.

"Guidance on management of outbreaks in schools and nurseries has just been updated, and research continues to further investigate the rise," Theresa Lamagni, a senior epidemiologist at Public Health England, told CNN in a previous report. "We encourage parents to be aware of the symptoms of scarlet fever and to contact their (general practitioner) if they think their child might have it."


(CNN)





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