Warning to parents after increase in scarlet fever cases

Public health officials from Derbyshire County Council are warning parents to look out for the symptoms of scarlet fever in their children after an increase in reports of the disease.
General Health tileGeneral Health tile
General Health tile

To help prevent the spread of scarlet fever, which most commonly occurs in children aged between two and eight, public health officials are advising parents to take children with suspected symptoms to their GP.

The first symptoms often include a sore throat, headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. After 12 to 48 hours a fine red rash develops which feels like sandpaper to touch.

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The rash usually appears on the chest and stomach before rapidly spreading to other parts of the body. On darker skin it can be harder to spot, although the skin will still feel like sandpaper.

Parents can also get free advice about scarlet fever from the NHS 111 line or at www.hpa.org.uk.