Scarlet Fever in Infants: Basic Ideas
Scarlet fever in infants, or those from six months old and below, is rare because during this period, they are still protected by the immune system component that they derived from their mother. This component serves as antibodies that repel infections, which includes those that are brought by the group A streptococcus bacteria that cause scarlet fever.
Once the bacteria are acquired, it usually takes a few days of incubation before the first symptoms would manifest. Among the first signs of this condition is sore throat and fever. Since your child would not be able to point out which part hurts, if your baby has been suffering of fever for more than a day with the temperature not going down, better consult with your pediatrician immediately. After the onset of the first two symptoms, expect rashes to appear and some other signs like strawberry tongue, vomiting, chills and loss of appetite.
While scarlet fever in infants is not a very serious condition, not being able to treat it immediately can lead to complications, which can be fatal. Thus, you must be sure to know the signs to watch out for and the things that you must do to prevent it. Most importantly, you must regularly bring your child for checkup so that you are certain that he is in excellent health. Should any of the symptoms manifest, do not fret. Just make sure to observe all the changes that will happen so that you can communicate them with the doctor accurately.