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Scarlet Fever Research Paper

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One of the many microorganisms that are present in human flora is Streptococcus Pyogenes. “This microorganism belongs in Group A β-hemolytic streptococcus” (VanMeter K.C and Hubert R.J, 2016,p.302). What is most surprising is that this same microorganism can also cause some of the most devastating diseases. According to Samson SY Wong and Kwok-Yung Yuen, (Streptococcus Pyogenes and re-emergence of scarlet fever as a public health problem,2012,para.2), “Streptococcus Pyogenes is one of the most virulent species causing human infections.” Conversely, if the same pathogen invades compromised skin, they can cause sepsis. Consequently, (Scarlet Fever: Overview-PubMed Health, 2017,p.2) “Although these kinds of serious complications are rare, they …show more content…

Scarlet Fever can affect people of all ages (Britannica.com) but according to PubMed (2017,para.4), Scarlet fever has been shown to be a prevalent disease of pre-teens. Specifically, children in the age range of 6 and 12 are most commonly affected. In early stages of the disease according to PubMed, (2017,para 2), “Scarlet fever may cause the following symptoms; Sore throat, fever and chills, painful swallowing, rash, vomiting, exhaustion, swollen tonsils, swollen lymph nodes, stomachache (common in younger children)”. Another hallmark sign is red tongue, which is sometimes called “strawberry tongue”(PubMed Health). Basetti et al highlight the difficulty of differentiating the disease with other diseases common for that age group. Therefore, they suggest the following signs and symptoms as being the marker of these differentiations as, “a rash that originates from the groin and spreads bilaterally up the trunk to the axilla, at 7-10 days the rash spreads to the extremities and …show more content…

According to S. Basetti et al,(p. 78, para. 8,9) Treatment for Scarlet fever is by Penicillin V regiment. They also advocate for treating accompanying symptoms with over the counter medications namely ibuprofen. Other non-pharmacological treatments is ensuring fluid and electrolyte balance through hydration. These treatments are not only useful to treating the sick host but also serve a purpose of limiting the transmission of the disease by limiting the amount of time the host is contagious and thus breaking down the chain of infection. While this type of infection is “self limiting”, in some cases it could lead to more complications. These include acute rheumatic fever and other complications such as pharyngitis. According to PubMed Health, Scarlet fever sometimes led to serious complications, before the development of

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