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The main form of treatment for scarlet fever in children consists of a single dose of Penicillin injection, but oral suspension (syrup) can also be used for 10 days. In case of allergy to penicillin, the doctor may recommend erythromycin in syrup form, for 10 days.
Normally, 2 days after the beginning of the treatment, the scarlet fever symptoms start to disappear, however, the antibiotic must be kept for the time determined by the doctor, since the infection can reoccur if the treatment is stopped beforehand, and there is a risk of developing antibiotic resistance.
What to eat during treatment
Scarlet fever can cause severe sore throat, as well as discomfort throughout the mouth, so it is recommended to prefer to eat liquid or pasty foods, ideally fresh or at room temperature, such as vegetable soup with egg or boiled chicken, for example. Other good examples include puree, gelatin, fruit juice and yogurt vitamins.
Very hot foods should be avoided so as not to aggravate the discomfort in the throat. Bread, cookies and toast can also be consumed, as long as they are soaked in milk or tea.
How to relieve symptoms naturally
In addition to the use of antibiotics to cure the disease, there are also other precautions that help to relieve symptoms, such as:
- Bathing in warm water, that is, neither too hot nor cold, to help relieve fever;
- Put cold compresses or a towel wet with cold water on the forehead and armpits to help lower the fever.
- Regularly apply warm chamomile or eucalyptus tea to the skin to refresh and relieve itching;
- Apply mineral oils or moisturizing creams to hydrate, reduce redness and prevent skin peeling.
During treatment and until the symptoms have disappeared, it is also advisable to rest at home, so that the body can recover more easily and to prevent the transmission of infection.
Possible complications
Scarlet fever is usually easily treated with the antibiotic indicated by the doctor, and complications rarely occur. However, although rare, there may be rheumatic fever, which is damage to the heart valves and kidney damage that can progress to kidney failure.
Treatment with antibiotics in the time recommended by the doctor prevents the appearance of the main complications of this disease.
Signs of improvement or worsening
Signs of improvement in scarlet fever include a decrease in reddish patches on the skin, an increase in appetite, a decrease in sore throat, as well as fever.
The signs of worsening of scarlet fever, on the other hand, occur when treatment is not done or is interrupted before the hour, and include an increase in fever, an increase in sore throats, pain in the ear or elsewhere in the body, as well as an increase in reddish spots on the skin. If scarlet fever is suspected of worsening, it is very important to return to the hospital.