How does the body fight off scarlet fever?
Scarlet fever is an infection that is caused by a bacteria called streptococcus. Scarlet fever, also known as scarlatina, gets its name from the fact that the patient’s skin, especially on the cheeks, is flushed. A sore throat and raised rash over much of the body are accompanied by fever and sluggishness (lethargy). The fever usually subsides within a few days and recovery is complete by two weeks. After the fever is gone, the skin on the face and body flakes; the skin on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet peels more dramatically. Early in the 20th century, severe scarlet fever epidemics were common. Today, the disease is rare. Although this decline is due in part to the availability of antibiotics, that is not the entire reason since the decline began before the widespread use of antibiotics. One theory is that the strain of bacteria that causes scarlet fever has become weaker with time. If treated promptly with antibiotics, full recovery is expected. Once a patient has had
