INFOGRAPHIC: Scarlet fever reported in the Moot
Tasja Cloete from Rietfontein said their daughter was diagnosed with Scarlet Fever on Sunday.
A case of scarlet fever has been reported in the Moot.
Scarlet fever was once a common cause of death in young children and this infectious disease has made an unprecedented comeback in several countries across the globe in recent years. Today, the illness can be treated with antibiotics.
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Tasja Cloete from Rietfontein told Rekord that her daughter was diagnosed with scarlet fever on Sunday.
She said Werna (3) started showing symptoms on Friday.
“She had a very high fever and was throwing up,” Tasja said.
“We did not think anything about it but kept an eye on her.”
Werna however started getting a rash which spread all over her body.
“On Sunday, she got worse and complained that her whole body was sore,” she said.
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“After seeing that she had small dots on her tongue, we took her to the doctor where she was diagnosed with scarlet fever.”
Tasja said Werna was under quarantine for the next 10 days at home but was diagnosed at the Tshwane district hospital.
“I had to take our son to his grandfather for ten days. This fever is highly contagious,” she said.
“At the moment, I am the only one allowed to make contact with her.”
Scarlet fever, also known as scarlatina, is an infection that can develop in people who have strep throat.
It is characterised by a bright red rash on the body, usually accompanied by a high fever and sore throat. The same bacteria that causes strep throat also causes scarlet fever.
Scarlet fever mainly affects children between the ages of 5 and 15 years.
It used to be a common and serious childhood illness, but is rare today.
Antibiotic treatments have reduced the severity of the symptoms and the prevalence of the disease.
Researchers aren’t sure why cases of scarlet fever have decreased while cases of strep throat remain common.
A rash is the most common sign of scarlet fever in both adults and children. It usually looks like sunburn and feels like sandpaper.
The rash typically begins on the chest and stomach and then spreads to the rest of the body.
The scarlet-coloured rash is what gives scarlet fever its name.
The national institute of communicable diseases (NICD) said no cases of Scarlet fever have been reported.
“We do not routinely monitor Scarlett fever,” they said.
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