Increase in number of children with scarlet fever
THERE has been an upsurge in the number of cases of scarlet fever in Wales this autumn. Public Health Wales figures show that 117 people, mostly children, were diagnosed with the infection between October 9 and November 19.
Over the same period, there were just 87 cases in 2016, 64 in 2015 and 68 in 2014.
Scarlet fever, also called scarlatina, causes a blotchy, pink/red rash and mostly affects children under 10 years old.
It was a common cause of childhood death in Victorian times and, even today, in rare cases it can cause severe illnesses like pneumonia, sepsis and liver and kidney damage. However, it is rarely serious.
Parents are being urged to be aware of the symptoms and contact their GP immediately if they are worried their child is infected.
Dr Christopher Williams, consultant epidemiologist for Public Health Wales, said: “Scarlet fever shows a seasonal variation in the UK, and also year to year variation – for example, in 2014, we saw a larger than usual number of cases.
“This year, we have seen more cases of scarlet fever in the last few weeks than for the same period in 2016, but overall case numbers for the year to date are slightly lower than for the whole of last year.”
Between weeks one and 46 of 2017, there were 1,295 cases of scarlet fever in Wales, which is lower than the 1,419 recorded in 2016 but higher than 1,098 in 2015 and 1,251 in 2014.
Dr Williams added: “While scarlet fever is rarely serious and can be treated with antibiotics the symptoms – including a red, flushed face and swollen tongue – can appear very alarming to parents.
“Scarlet fever usually affects children aged two to eight but can be caught at any age. Outbreaks in nurseries and schools occasionally happen. We would advise parents to be alert to the symptoms of scarlet fever and speak to their GP if they are concerned about their child’s health.”
In England, there were more than 19,000 cases of scarlet fever reported in 2016 – the most since 1967.
Study leader Dr Theresa Lamagni, head of streptococcal surveillance at Public Health England, said: “While current rates are nowhere near those seen in the early 1900s, the magnitude of the recent upsurge is greater than any documented in the last century.
“We encourage parents to be aware of the symptoms of scarlet fever and to contact their GP if they think their child might have it.”
She said the underlying cause of the resurgence is not known although several locations in East Asia have also reported an escalation including Vietnam, China, South Korea and Hong Kong.
She added: “While there is no clear connection between the situation in the UK and east Asia, a link cannot be excluded without better understanding of the drivers behind these changes. The hunt for further explanations for the rise in scarlet fever goes on.”