Scarlet fever in adults: symptoms, treatment. Symptoms of scarlet fever in adults

Scarlet fever has long been considered a childhood disease. After all, often children under 10 suffer from it. It is extremely rare that the disease occurs in newborns. However, in today's world there is scarlet fever in adults. Symptoms of the disease can so much resemble tonsillitis or pharyngitis that quite often they are simply confused with other diseases.

scarlet fever in adults symptoms

Source of ailment

Scarlet fever in children and in adults has a bacterial nature. Symptoms, treatment of the disease are directly related to this feature. After all, it is caused by group A streptococcus, which affects the respiratory system. You can get infected from a patient who fell ill no more than three weeks ago.

Scarlet fever epidemic among children is most often observed in the winter. This is because the defenses of the body at this time are reduced. The first symptoms of the disease after infection, perhaps, will appear after a couple of hours, but can in a week. If the immunity is strong, then the disease can make itself felt only after ten days.

Causes of the disease

Why does scarlet fever occur in adults? The causes, symptoms, treatment of scarlet fever that has arisen in the older generation are almost the same as in children.

Thus, the main sources of infection are sick people:

  1. Those with scarlet fever, tonsillitis or streptococcal pharyngitis. In the early days, a person is especially contagious.
  2. Recovering from a streptococcal infection. It can be dangerous to others for another three weeks.
  3. In 15% of people, streptococci can be found in the nasopharynx. Moreover, they themselves do not get sick, but they can infect others.

How is the infection transmitted?

Now we know what causes such an ailment as scarlet fever in adults, which causes it. Symptoms, treatment of the disease require increased attention. After all, the disease is very contagious. Scarlet fever is transmitted by airborne droplets. When a person sneezes or coughs, particles of saliva with bacteria are released into the air and can enter the nasopharynx of a healthy person. Infections can also occur through bedding, toys, dishes, or food. Infection can be transmitted to the baby from the mother during childbirth.

symptoms of scarlet fever in adults

Scarlet fever is transmitted in four main ways:

  1. Airborne method - from the patient to healthy when communicating. For example, among children this way is very common. When the patient coughs or just talks, small droplets can get on the mucous membrane of a healthy person. The infection settles on the tonsils. There, toxins begin to be produced, which then spread throughout the body, including to the lymph nodes.
  2. Everyday way - the patient touches objects, leaving there traces of saliva or mucus secretion. Despite the fact that bacteria no longer have such power, getting on surrounding objects, but infection can still occur. The bacterium that gets on the mucous membrane of a healthy person is fixed there and multiplies. Sanitizing measures will also help secure furniture items.
  3. Food - this is when bacteria somehow got into food and multiplied there. Most often this happens with dairy products that are not amenable to heat treatment. A man eats it and becomes infected. Bacteria settle on the mucosa, and scarlet fever develops. In this regard, measures are being taken to detect infection in cooks and other food industry workers.
  4. Due to damage to the skin - the infection penetrates through any wounds, including postpartum injuries. At the site of infection, bacteria multiply. These are associated with rashes and inflammation of the lymph nodes near the affected area.

Signs of the disease in adults

Most often, children suffer from scarlet fever. Young people 19-20 years old already have immunity against this disease. However, cases of infection in older adults have been recorded. This is possible if they spend a lot of time indoors in crowded places, in dormitories or in barracks.

scarlet fever in children in adults symptoms treatment

Today, most often the symptoms of scarlet fever in adults completely exclude a rash. The disease is more like pharyngitis. Often, the symptoms are not too pronounced, and the diagnosis is difficult.

Scarlet fever in adults, whose symptoms are mistaken for a sore throat, is acute. Bacteria most often occupy the nasopharynx. An external sign of the disease is a very red palate and tongue. The list of symptoms of scarlet fever does not end here:

  • sharp sore throat, especially when swallowing;
  • white-yellow plaque on the tonsils, pus and ulcers;
  • an increase in size and inflammation of the lymph nodes under the jaw ;
  • signs of intoxication;
  • body temperature up to 40 °;
  • lethargy and pain in the head;
  • nausea and vomiting at the initial stage of the disease.

These symptoms of scarlet fever in adults appear due to the spread of toxins in the body. In this case, the skin is dry, with an itchy rash. Its main features:

  • the first rash appears on the face;
  • the skin under the nose and to the chin turns pale;
  • most of the rash is concentrated above the pubis, as well as in the folds of the body;
  • after pressing, a white trace appears, which lasts 15-20 seconds;
  • sometimes the rash may become bluish due to hemorrhage under the skin.

Streptococcal infection enters the body through wounds or burns. The rash is centered around them. The lymph nodes perform the functions of body filters, so in the affected area they become large and it is painful to press them. Toxins accumulate there.

scarlet fever in adults causes symptoms treatment for scarlet fever

Incubation period

From the moment the infection enters the body until the onset of the first symptoms, some time passes. It is called the incubation period, while the disease proceeds hidden. Regardless of what scarlet fever begins in adults, the symptoms are almost invisible. This is due to the low concentration of the virus in the body at such a time.

The incubation period with scarlet fever can last up to 12 days, but most often - 2-7. It all depends on the amount of virus that has got into the body and the state of health.

Infection actively multiplies on the mucous membranes. Immunity fights it, at first successfully, then worse. Antibodies to kill bacteria begin to be produced. At some point, the amount of virus becomes critical. The toxins that secrete streptococci poison the body and reduce defenses. The immune system does not cope with the infection, and then the only way out is to start treatment.

Antibiotics against scarlet fever

Fight an illness should begin immediately, as soon as the first symptoms of a disease such as scarlet fever arise. Adult treatment is based on antibiotics. Only they are effective enough to withstand this infection.

scarlet fever symptoms treatment in adults

Depending on the degree of the disease, apply:

  • Mild - use drugs of the macrolide or penicillin group in the form of pills or suspensions for the treatment of children. Medications are taken for ten days.
  • Moderate degree - penicillin preparations are prescribed in the form of intramuscular injections. The course of treatment is also ten days.
  • Severe - in this case, I-II generation cephalosporins are used in the form of intravenous injections for 10-14 days.

In order for the recovery to proceed more intensively, a whole complex of various means is used.

Therapy with other drugs

Along with antibiotics, the patient may also be prescribed:

  1. Antihistamines - to remove signs of allergy, as well as complications. They can occur due to hypersensitivity to certain medications.
  2. Means of lowering the temperature - to relieve acute pain in the head and lower body temperature.
  3. Vascular preparations - to protect and strengthen blood vessels from infection damage.
  4. Prophylactic agents are medicines that cleanse the mucous membranes from the accumulation of bacteria.
  5. If the patient's condition is too serious, then droppers can be given him, injecting intravenous solutions of salt or glucose. This will speed up the establishment of water-salt metabolism and will contribute to the rapid removal of toxins.

scarlet fever in adults causes symptoms treatment

Physiotherapy

If a doctor has diagnosed scarlet fever in adults, symptoms and treatment require an integrated approach. Therefore, along with medications, physiotherapy may be recommended. Such measures will help get rid of the sore throat that accompanies scarlet fever, and cleanse the tonsils from streptococci. Therapy includes the following procedures:

  • Irradiation of the glands with UV rays, which destroy proteins in bacteria and destroy them.
  • SMV treatment of tonsils.
  • Magnetolaser therapy to improve blood circulation and enhance immunity.
  • UHF therapy to eliminate inflammation and healing of ulcers.
  • KUF-therapy destroys bacteria and cleans tonsils.

scarlet fever in adults symptoms and treatment

Conclusion

It should be remembered that the disease is highly contagious. Therefore, if scarlet fever begins in adults, whose symptoms are very similar to other diseases, you should immediately begin to fight it. In order to avoid infection of loved ones, the patient should be isolated if possible.


All Articles