Victorian disease that causes ‘sandpaper rash and killer complications’ surges 42% in a month – is your area affected?
THE areas where you are most likely to catch scarlet fever have been revealed on a map, as cases surge by 40 per cent in a month.
The South East is the national hotspot for the Victorian disease, which used to be one of the leading causes of infant death, often wiping out entire families.
Over 2,800 deaths were recorded at the height of the 1914 epidemic.
One hundred years later, in 2014, fewer than five per cent of affected children were admitted to hospital, and none of them died from the disease.
However, cases are surprisingly common today, with over 13,000 suspected cases reported since January 2024 alone.
Scarlet fever can be very serious.
It is caused by a bacteria called Group A streptococcus (group A strep) and spreads easily.
Thanks also to antibiotics, it’s now less common and easier to treat, and the risk of complications is vastly reduced.
In rare cases, the bacteria can reach the bloodstream and cause a fatal invasive disease called iGAS.
Cases of Strep A surged last winter, peaking in December – leading to severe antibiotic shortages.
During that time, a total of 426 people, including 48 children, died with iGAS in England.
Since January this year, there have been 13132 cases of scarlet fever – slightly lower than usual for this time of year.
By comparison, the UKHSA report said 16852 cases of scarlet fever were seen during the same period last year.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) publishes notifications of infectious diseases (NOIDs) in England and Wales every week.
From March 18 to March 24, doctors reported 1341 suspected scarlet fever cases, but only 1277 have been assigned to regions.
The UKHSA gathers the data from medics, who must report suspected cases of certain infectious diseases, such as TB, smallpox and whooping cough.
The figures suggested cases have increased by 45 per cent in the last month, from 940.
After the South East, which reported 332 infections, the East Midlands came in second for the area where people are most likely to pick scarlet fever, reporting 248 suspected infections.
In third place comes London, where doctors noted 211 suspected infections.
The East of England and Yorkshire followed behind as the fourth and fifth most dangerous areas, with doctors reporting 128 and 121 suspected infections, respectively.
Wales scooted in sixth, where doctors noted 111 suspected infections.
The North West and North East faired better, with the 67 and 51 cases, respectively.
Meanwhile, the West Midlands and the Southwest came out best, with doctors in the regions reporting just five and two cases, respectively.
Scarlet fever symptoms
THE NHS says you should watch out for:
- A sore throat
- Skin infection, including blisters or impetigo
- A large itchy pink or red rash on the skin (will appear after flu-like symptoms)
- Headache
- A high temperature
- Flushed cheeks
- A swollen tongue
- Swollen neck glands
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Red lines in the folds of the body, such as the armpit, which may last a couple of days after the rash has gone
- A white coating on the tongue, which peels a few days later leaving the tongue red and swollen (this is known as strawberry tongue)
The symptoms are the same for children and adults, although scarlet fever is less common in adults
What to do if you or your child has scarlet fever
Parents are advised to book an appointment for their children at their local GP if they notice symptoms of the bacterial bug.
If diagnosed, sufferers will be prescribed a course of liquid antibiotics, which should be taken for ten days.
Symptoms often clear up within two weeks, but there can be complications of scarlet fever.
There is a small risk of the infection spreading to other parts of the body, causing ear infections, sinusitis or pneumonia.
It’s advisable to return to your GP as soon as possible if you’re affected by headaches, vomiting or diarrhoea after the initial scarlet fever symptoms have cleared up.