Step into the world of scarlet fever, a disease that haunted the past but has made a surprising comeback in recent years. Discover the symptoms, the history, and the mystery surrounding this contagious illness.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, 36,000 people died of a disease known as scarlet fever.  The victims were mainly the young aged from five to fifteen. The disease is caused by bacteria and is spread through close contact with people carrying it. Symptoms begin with a sore throat, headache and fever. Then, a pink-red rash appears on the neck and face. It looks strange, as the rash does not cover the mouth, giving the victim the look of a painted clown.

The tongue also becomes covered in a strawberry red, bumpy rash, making it hard to swallow. Patients lose their appetite. The rash spreads over the body and it becomes very itchy. Parents were terrified of the disease, knowing their child could die from it.

As the years went by, scarlet fever became less common and with the development of anti-biotics it began to disappear. Parents could sigh with relief as this former killer disease was no longer a threat to their young ones.

So why write about scarlet fever today? In 2011 the disease began to appear again in Mainland China. There were also two deaths from it in Hong Kong. More recently, there has been a significant increase of young people catching scarlet fever. In England, 19,206 cases were reported in 2016 – the highest number in over 50 years.

Doctors and scientists thought it might be a new strain, or new kind of scarlet fever. Tests proved this was not the case.  They were the same strains from years ago. No-one has yet come up with any explanation.

It’s very important that everyone washes their hands regularly to help prevent the disease from spreading. Scarlet fever can still be treated with antibiotics, but there is still no vaccine. If it is not caught soon enough, it can damage vital organs including the liver and kidneys. Parents, schools and health professionals should also keep an eye open for a disease they may never have seen before.

Question:

What is scarlet fever?

VOCABULARY