Scarlet Fever: How to Care for Your Child

Scarlet fever is a rash that some kids get when they have strep throat. Antibiotics treat the bacteria that cause strep throat and scarlet fever and help prevent other problems. The rash usually starts to fade after about 3–5 days, and then often peels for a few weeks until the skin is healed. 

Follow these instructions as you care for your child.

• Give your child the antibiotics as prescribed by your health care provider. Be sure your child takes all the doses exactly as directed, even if they feel better. Stopping the medicine early could cause the infection to come back or lead to other problems.

• If your health care provider says it's OK, you can give acetaminophen (Tylenol^® or a store brand) OR ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand). Follow the instructions on the label for how much to give and how often.

• Make sure your child drinks plenty of liquids.

• Trim your child's fingernails so skin isn't irritated from scratching the rash.

• Your child can return to childcare or school when they have taken the antibiotics for 12 hours, are fever-free, and feel better.

Your child:

• can't take the antibiotics

• isn't drinking enough liquids and starts to show signs of dehydration (such as peeing less often, no tears when crying, a dry or sticky mouth)

• doesn't start to feel better after 2 days on antibiotics

Also call your health care provider if someone else in your home develops a sore throat or a rash.

Your child:

• is dizzy, very drowsy, or hard to wake up

• has very dark, red, or tea-colored pee

• hasn't peed in 8 hours

What are the symptoms of scarlet fever? Kids with scarlet fever have a sore throat and a red, bumpy rash that feels like sandpaper and spreads over most of the body. They may also get small red bumps on the tongue (called a "strawberry tongue"), a fever, headache, and belly pain.

What problems can happen if strep throat and scarlet fever aren't treated? Strep throat and scarlet fever that aren't treated with antibiotics can lead to:

• an ear or sinus infection

• rheumatic fever, which causes joint problems and sometimes heart problems

• kidney problems that can lead to high blood pressure