Scarlet fever

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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Scarlet fever rarely results in serious complications, particularly if promptly and appropriately treated with antibiotics. But post-scarlet fever disorders may occur. These include:

  • Rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that can affect the heart, joints, skin and nervous system. Long-term effects may include damage to heart valves; other heart disorders; and a syndrome called Sydenham's chorea, which causes emotional instability, muscle weakness and jerky movements of the hands, feet and face. Appropriate treatment of strep bacteria infection greatly reduces the risk of rheumatic fever.
  • Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis is inflammation of the kidneys that results from certain byproducts of strep bacteria infection. This disorder may cause long-term kidney disease.
  • Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS). Research suggests that strep bacteria infection may cause an autoimmune response that worsens symptoms in children with certain disorders including obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The increased severity of symptoms usually is temporary, lasting from weeks to months before symptoms improve again.

Other complications
Other complications that may result from untreated scarlet fever include:

  • Bacterial infection of the blood (bacteremia)
  • Ear infection (otitis media)
  • Inflammation of the membranes and fluid that surround the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
  • Infection of the bone behind the ear (mastoiditis)
  • Infection of the heart's inner lining (endocarditis)
  • Pneumonia
  • Inflammation of mucous membranes and buildup of fluids in the sinuses (sinusitis)
  • Arthritis
  • Pus-filled sac (abscess) in the throat
  • Skin infections
Preparing for your appointment Risk factors
References
  1. Arumugam V, et al. Scarlet fever. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/119790350-5/802768093/1701/530.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04134-8..50022-7--cesec71_11163. Accessed Feb. 10, 2009.
  2. Exanthems and drug eruptions. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/119754552-5/802599473/1195/85.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01319-8..50016-9--cesec21_1617. Accessed Feb. 10, 2009.
  3. Gerber MA. Group A streptococcus. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics.18th ed. Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/119754552-5/802599473/1608/526.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50184-5--cesec9_4149. Accessed Feb. 10, 2009.
  4. Streptococcal and enterococcal infections. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec14/ch171/ch171d.html. Accessed Feb. 10, 2009.
  5. Scarlet fever. American Academy of Family Physicians. http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=familydoctor&lic=44&article_set=22939. American Academy of Family Physicians. Accessed Feb. 10, 2009.
  6. Fever in infants and children. American Academy of Family Physicians. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom/504.html. Accessed Feb. 10, 2009.
  7. Leslie DL, et al. Neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection: A case-control study among privately insured children. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2008;47:1166.
  8. Group A streptococcal infections. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.  http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/streptococcal/default.htm. Accessed Feb. 10, 2009.
  9. Scarlet fever. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/scarletfever_g.htm. Accessed Feb. 10, 2009.
  10. PANDAS. Pediatrics & Developmental Neuroscience Branch. http://intramural.nimh.nih.gov/pdn/web.htm. Accessed Feb. 10, 2009.

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April 4, 2009

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