Scarlet fever anyone???

[KristyHall]

have you recently been bitten by a tick, within the last couple of months?

I caught rocky mountain spotted fever that way and thought I had the flue until I started getting the rash. Went through flare ups of it for over three months before I and the doctor figures out what it was. Being in a rural area in Alabama I'm always getting bit by ticks so I didn't think of mentioning it until I kept getting sick.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Not all sore throats (even bad one) are strep. There could be mroe than one thing going on, with the throat and rash unrelated to each other, or they could both be from the same cause. Bloodwork may help them figure out what it is (if the long strep test comes back negative). In the meantime, do things to boost your immune system. Plenty of Vitamin C, lots of rest and liquids, eat nutritious foods, don;t stress your body.

 

[BorderKelpie]

Can you talk someone into going to the store and get you some of this:

http://www.celestialseasonings.com/products/detail.html/wellness-teas/sleepytime-throat-tamer

I know it's not a cure for your sore throat, but my DD swears by it (I just drink it because I love the taste of it). If nothing else, the warm fluids help dilute whatever nasty bugs are invading your throat. There are other 'flavors' there, too. I really like the Sinus Soother, but I think the throat tamer would be a better option for you.

I do hope whatever you have is not serious and that you are up and having fun again very soon.

edited because I have yet to install a spell check in my brain

 

[Sierra pachie bars]

My daughter caught it when she was 5 , it was so scary !!! She develop the what they call "mask" while sitting with her doctor. Doctor goes yup tests scarlet fever. My mom took my other kids so they were nit around her. She never got well. Shes had health issues ever since. They think that is what triggered fibromyalgia for her. They kept saying she had lupus. So we took her to childrens hospital in orange . One of the best . Finally they gave here fibromyalgia with migrains and ANA +. I have heard of people going deaf or blind after getting Scarlett fever. As a mom I had never been so scared. Her temp would go so high. I had problems drying to drop it.
She still gets boils , and I hear those a painful. Not sure exactly why. I felt so helpless.
My daughters doctors said that the scarlett fever triggered her fibromyalgia. Shes doing ok with medications , but its hard for a 12 year old little girl to deal with it. Take good care of your self.

 

[bkreugar]

-Well I am a bit more confident it IS Scarlett fever as the rash has now spread down my legs and up my neck. But at some point last nite the itching DID get better.

This morning I took my antibiotic as my throat is on fire! I took some advil to make the throat bearable, which helps. So throat is worse and rash while spreading is no longer as itchy. Currently drinking coffee.

DS 8 helped me with all the animals this a.m. before going off to school (such a good little mama's boy). So I am back to bed for a nap!

 

[welsummerchicks]

I am not confident at all that it is scarlet fever - see notes below. Young children are more typical patients of scarlet fever, and it's been going on for 21 days so far, which is unusual for scarlet fever.

I don't know how rural you are but for tick fever, you would have had to contract this in early march - I don't know exactly where you are but tick season has not fired up yet except in dog ticks and others that rarely bite people and do not carry Lyme disease or RMSTF, so I am not too sure of it being a tick borne disease either...you also have to have been bitten by a tick - even if bitten illness is not guaranteed. Many types of ticks don't carry disease.

RMSF responds VERY well to antibiotics, and the rash STARTS on the legs and feet. So that doesn't sound like a match.

Lyme disease (often) starts with a 'bulls eye' pattern rash around a tick bite, and you didn't describe having that.

There is another tick borne disease called STARI - Southern tick associated rash infection(not linked to or at all similar to Lyme Disease). It does occur in NC hill country, but again, that large area, 'bulls eye' rash - you didn't describe as having.

Mycosis fungoides. I had to look this one up as I am not familiar with it. Mycosis fungoides would be unusual in someone your age. The form that presents with red skin is very rare in those under 60, and additionally, it usually appears in patches. There is now a new medication for it, an 'orphan' drug which suggests the disease is rather rare as well. It is diagnosed by skin biopsy.

The doctors may not consider it as a first or second option (or tenth) because your rash simply doesn't look like it, or because it is so rare - it is .5% of all non hodgkins lymphomas, or because of your age.

All non hodgkins lymphoma's median age at diagnosis is 67. The incidence rate is about 20 per 100,000 people. That makes it rare - 2% of men and women born today will be diagnosed with non hodgkins lymphoma, and MF is .5% of all non hodgkins lymphomas. .64% of women born today will be diagnosed with nhl, multiply that by .005, that's a rare condition.

I also had to refresh my memory on scarlet fever as it is many decades since I heard of anyone with it.

Scarlet fever is caused by strep pyogenes. The rash occurs after the fever, generally 1-2 days after. You don't mention having a fever. The fever with scarlet fever is usually over 101 deg.

You didn't describe the rash in detail or mention where your rash started, in SF it usually starts in the armpits or on the chest, behind the ears, though another source says it starts on neck and face but not around the mouth, and then goes to the chest etc.

You didn't mention if you have the strawberry colored tongue typical of SF, or if the rash is worse in skin folds, that is also typical of scarlet fever. The more intense rash in the skin folds, which looks like red streaks, is also very typical.

You didn't mention if the rash started to improve after 3 days, or if the skin started peeling after the rash improved.

Scarlet fever IS diagnosed (and excluded) by a throat culture.

Scarlet fever rash looks like a very bad sunburn with little bumps. It is treated with antibiotics and the rash generally improves within 24 hours of treatment.

You MUST take all the augmentin AS prescribed. You do sound like you have a skin infection and you need to take the medication EXACTLY as prescribed.

Given that you are still having the rash after 21 days, it seems quite sure that you have a skin infection (scarlet fever would be gone by now, and anyway the rash does not sound typical of it) and you MUST take ALL the medication exactly as prescribed.

Children often get a rash with a viral sore throat - it is a reaction to the protein covering of the virus that is causing the sore throat. I went through a period as a young teen when I got a rash from every cold or sore throat I got.

 

[bkreugar]

Welsummer I always appreciate it when you chime in with your analytical skills.

My rash did start under my arms but NOT the armpit itself. They initially thought it was runners rash as I had been more intense at the gym as I was running my first 5k of the season on March 26.

My Initial symptoms started on March 20th a slight sore throat and a rash that got progressively worse each day and antihistimines did nothing for it.

I live in the peidmont part of nc the central part of the state. I really do NOT think it is a tick as that is early in the season AND I definitly had no bullseye type rash.

I too have some doubts as to scarlett fever as I have YET to have any fever. Temp yesterday was 97.5. And as you said I am not a child. Yes my throat and tongue were red. It DOES seem worse in skin folds but no red streaks and it feels like itchy sandpaper but not like a sunburn.

Yes I am most assuredly going to take the Augmenten as prescribed. I am slightly worried it won't be strong enough. But I guess they will know if they have to change the script on manday after the throat culture comes back. DOc was a bit flummoxed.

I had mentioned the possibility of a FUNGUS from the gym mats or the back of the gym equipment but she dismissed that right away (I don;t know why). I also offered up the pool or hot tub at the gym but she said I would NOT be the only one affected.

Does that help at all? I googled a lot myself and I can't find anything it matches better too THAN scarlett fever. Doc thinks it was resitant too the keflex but it did keep it in check. I thought if it was resistant it would have NO affect but she says a reduced impact.

I am really looking forward to monday for some answers.

 

[hollymh]

There is a virus going around causing just what you described, I will have to look up an old email to get the name b/c I have sine forgot! My younger brother just got over a bout of it and it lasted the poor guy 3 weeks! I will repost with an update after I get them name. Hope you get to feeling better!

 

[hollymh]

Does your rash look anything like this? It has the EXACT SAME symptoms of your rash, still working on getting the name though

 

[mom'sfolly]

Ouch!!!!

That picture makes me itch just looking at it.