We have published our transformation plan for children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing services in south East London. The plan covers what we aim to achieve overall, and the key actions we will take in 2022/23 and 2023/24. Our aim is to support service improvements that will benefit children and young people, […]
As explained above, milder infections caused by Strep A include scarlet fever, impetigo, cellulitis, tonsillitis and pharyngitis (a sore throat). Check your child’s symptoms and follow the advice here and in our FAQs below.
While case numbers are high, parents should be on the lookout for scarlet fever symptoms of scarlet fever so that appropriate and timely treatment can be given by your GP. It is usually a mild illness that clears up quickly after a course of antibiotics.
To make your child more comfortable if they have scarlet fever, you may want to lower their temperature using paracetamol (calpol) and/or ibuprofen. Use one and if your child has not improved 2/3 hours later you may want to try giving the other medicine. However, remember that fever is a normal response that may help the body to fight infection and paracetamol/ibuprofen will not get rid of it entirely.
Avoid tepid sponging your child – it doesn’t actually reduce your child’s temperature and may cause your child to shiver.
Encourage them to drink plenty of fluids.
Despite the out of season increase we are seeing in scarlet fever and other Strep A infections, the risk of the bacteria causing a more serious infection like iGAS remains very low.