When a pregnant woman suffers from a disease, it is usually a great cause for concern because of the damage that this condition may cause to the baby since her position during this stage of development is very delicate. The more conspicuous and bulky, the more problematic they are for the person and the family among the diseases. Scarlet fever is one of these conditions. Although it is mainly associated with young children, the truth is that it can also affect adults.
Knowing what measures to take to correctly control each disease that occurs during the development of pregnancy is of the utmost importance so that in this way the baby is born entirely healthy is essential for every future mother, and that is why this FastlyHealarticle addresses the issue of scarlet fever in pregnancy: symptoms and risk.
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Scarlet fever: what is it, and how is it spread?
Scarlet fever, also called scarlet fever, is a disease produced by a bacterium called streptococcus pyogenes which enters the human body through the airways. However, sometimes it can also be a consequence of other conditions such as impetigo or
the same bacteria produce pharyngitis.
Symptoms of scarlet fever
The main characteristic of this disease is a skin rash or exanthema that spreads throughout the entire body, producing elevations and red areas on the skin. Apart from this typical sign, scarlet fever is usually accompanied by a sore throat irritation, either due to the production of tonsillitis or pharyngitis.
Scarlet fever is also usually accompanied by other symptoms that are generally very similar to those of a cold, such as:
- Fever of around 38 ° C
- Swelling of the lymph nodes
- Shaking chills
- General discomfort
- Joint pain
- Sickness
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
In the most severe cases, it can produce other symptoms such as:
- The production of abscesses in the throat or the ears
- Kidney disease.
Effects of scarlet fever on the fetus
Most of the time, the symptoms of scarlet fever in pregnant women are the same as in people who are not, although pregnant women are at greater risk of meningitis, which is an inflammation of the protective layers that line the brain as a result of the invasion of bacteria, or they can also suffer from sinusitis, which is a respiratory condition that causes inflammation of a membrane of the airways.
Scarlet fever, as such, is not a disease that can produce an alteration in the development of a fetus since it usually occurs like a cold. The cause of concern for women affected by the disease is the production of feverish symptoms that can exceed 38 ° C, a situation in which the first trimester of pregnancy is considered a situation capable of producing abortion.
However, this does not mean that a woman who suspects scarlet fever should not worry about consulting her doctor in the same way that she should for any illness she suffers from.
Treatment for scarlet fever in pregnant women
As it is a bacterial infection, people affected by scarlet fever tend to respond positively to the application of antibiotics such as amoxicillin or penicillin, which can be administered orally or intramuscularly, or the use of medications such as erythromycin when the person is allergic to penicillins. Fortunately, the antibiotics used to treat this condition are not capable of altering or damaging the developing fetus. Skin lesions can be treated with moisturizers to alleviate symptoms, and excessive sun exposure should be avoided so that scarring does not leave any marks.
Scarlet fever is often a disease in which the body can defend itself, limiting it and producing its remission without any consequence, even for pregnant women. Treatment can be focused on controlling symptoms in the most straightforward cases, especially fever and pain, for which non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often used. However, these drugs can alter the development of a fetus, so you should consult your doctor before consuming it, who will very surely approve the consumption of paracetamol as it is a safe drug.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Scarlet fever in pregnancy: symptoms and risks, we recommend that you enter our Immune System category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.