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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

If scarlet fever goes untreated, the bacteria may spread to the:

  • Tonsils
  • Sinuses
  • Skin
  • Blood
  • Middle ear

Rarely, scarlet fever can lead to rheumatic fever, a serious condition that can affect the:

  • Heart
  • Joints
  • Nervous system
  • Skin
Preparing for your appointment Risk factors
References
  1. Scarlet fever. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/scarletfever_g.htm. Accessed Jan. 5, 2011.
  2. Ferri FF. Scarlet fever. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..C2009-0-38600-6--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&about=true&uniqId=230100505-53. Accessed Jan. 5, 2011.
  3. Habif RP. Exanthems. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 5th ed. Edinburgh, U.K.; New York, N.Y.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..X0001-6--TOP&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&uniqId=230100505-57. Accessed Jan. 5, 2011.
  4. Pichichero ME. Complications of streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 5, 2011.
  5. Greer MA. Group A Streptococcus. In: Kliegman RM. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1608/0.html. Accessed Jan. 5, 2011.
  6. Fort GG, et al. Rheumatic fever. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..C2009-0-38600-6--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&about=true&uniqId=230100505-53. Accessed Jan. 5, 2011.
DS00917 March 12, 2011

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