skarlátbetegséget

Skarlátbetegség, also known as scarlet fever, is a bacterial illness caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, a type of group A Streptococcus. It typically affects children between the ages of 5 and 15, though it can occur at any age. The disease is characterized by a distinctive red rash, often described as feeling like sandpaper, which usually starts on the neck and chest and then spreads throughout the body. Other common symptoms include a sore throat, fever, and a "strawberry tongue," where the tongue appears coated and has red bumps.

The infection spreads through respiratory droplets, usually via coughing or sneezing from an infected individual. Close contact with someone who has scarlet fever or a carrier of the bacteria is the primary mode of transmission. Diagnosis is typically made based on clinical symptoms and sometimes confirmed with a throat swab to identify the bacteria.

Scarlet fever is treatable with antibiotics, most commonly penicillin or amoxicillin. Prompt treatment is important to prevent complications, which can include rheumatic fever, a serious inflammatory condition affecting the heart, joints, brain, and skin, or kidney disease. While once a more common and severe illness, widespread antibiotic use has made complications much rarer. Good hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes, can help reduce the spread of the bacteria.