New concerns have emerged following a report of a suspected case of scarlet fever at Sandown Public School in Waterloo, Ontario. The school sent an email to parents indicating that a student is believed to be infected with the disease, along with other students showing similar symptoms.

What is scarlet fever?

Scarlet fever is caused by the group "A" streptococcal bacteria (Group A streptococcus), the same bacteria that causes strep throat.

According to the Canadian Ministry of Health, the main symptoms include:

• A distinctive rash that feels like sandpaper.

• A strawberry-like tongue.

• High fever.

How does it spread?

The infection spreads from person to person through droplets produced by coughing or sneezing. Symptoms typically appear one to four days after exposure to the bacteria. The rash lasts for about a week, and the skin may begin to peel afterward.

Rare complications:

Possible complications include:

• Rheumatic fever, which can affect the heart, joints, and brain.

• Kidney damage (post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis).

Treatment

Scarlet fever is usually treated with antibiotics. Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum, the Deputy Medical Officer of Health for the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph area, explained that the illness does not improve on its own and requires treatment.

He also advised parents to monitor their children for any symptoms, stating:

“If your child is feeling unwell, it makes sense to watch them for 24 to 48 hours.”

Parents' reactions

Parents had mixed reactions to the warning, with one mother stating she kept her daughter home due to feeling unwell, while another noted the difficulty in detecting the infection until it was too late.

Scarlet fever is most common among children aged 5 to 18 years, and it is relatively rare compared to what it was in the past, but it requires medical attention upon discovery.