UPDATE on John-Cole's Rash.....Scarlet Fever!

[Beauty]

I almost passed out when they said that. It terrified me! I can't say I'm still not scared even though the doctor promised me that it "Isn't the monster it used to be!" Obviously he had the strep virus even though he never complained of his throat hurting very badly. He just said it was itchy. He has to be out of school at least 2 more days and he starts antibiotics. Now I'm just hoping none of us get the strep....especially my grandmother. Anyone had any experience with Scarlet Fever? The name still terrifys me!

 

[tar heel]

One of my children had it a few years back when he was in kindergarten. He missed a week of school -- was a very sick little boy. His skin peeled (sort of like a sunburn) all over (I do mean all over). His teacher that year was a Nazi, and he got in trouble with her for scratching his privates. I was furious -- he was tyring not to but was totally miserable. He recovered fine, but do make sure to get the antibiotics started immediately if you haven't already. Since our son was so sick, our doctor recommended the one-time antibiotic shot.

 

[Beauty]

Hi did take an antibiotic shot tonight and then he also has more to take that for 10 days. She stressed to me not to worry because like I said just the name scared me to death. She also said that his skin would probably peel. He seems to feel better now than he has the whole past week though.

 

[eeyore74]

I have a friend who had it a few years ago. It took her awhile to recover, but she's a workaholic. Once she rested, she healed up. I freaked when she told me, but like you're doctor said, it's not like it used to be.

Healing wishes to John-Cole!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>I had scarlet fever when I was a youngster, and that was way back in the 60's....

Medicine & technology have come a long way since then.

Hugs to you & John Cole - hope he feels better soon!

 

[Rajah]

Even though medicine has come a long way since Scarlet Fever was so dangerous, it still has a powerful name, doesn't it?

P&PD for John-Cole's swift recovery. *hugs*

 

[olena]

I'm sorry, Beth. No experience here. Just some Get well PD for John-Cole and some Peace of Mind PD for you.....*HUGS*

 

[catsrule]

Sorry about John-Cole, Beth. My neice had scarlet fever when she was in grade school, quite a few years ago, and with antibiotics she was just fine. She's 26 now.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hoping all goes well with John-Cole, Beth. My prayers and best are with him, and you too. {{Hugs}}

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yep, sorry you got that diagnosis. That is what it sounded like to me.
When you said flushed face, knew it was strep. 11yo dd was the queen of strep.
Now when she is sick I at least look in her throat because most of the time you can tell. But once she had it with NO symptoms...no fever, just the headache.
He will be just fine. Take the meds, no biggie.

 

[Mamu]

Sending Pixie Dust John-Cole, hope you are feeling better soon.

 

[Serena]

{{{{hugs}}}}

 

[Kitty 34]

Goodness, that sounds scary! Sending lots of PD for John Cole. I hope he gets to feeling better real quick!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Yep, I had it is a child and recovered fine !
My DS was the king of strep(until tonsils were removed) and had scarlet fever. Antibiotics are wonderful aren't they? He will be fine, just take the meds as prescribed.
We never caught strep from our children and between the 2 of them, it must have been in the house 25 times so far! If you drink or eat after him, there is a bigger risk. If you start to get a sore throat, call your Dr. right away and tell them your DS's diagnosis. They may prescribe over the phone for you. Take care.

 

[Lars624]

I am sending {{{Hugs}}} for you!!!!
Both of my boys had it about 2 years ago a few weks apart. One of them was in 5th grade & one of them was 4 y/o. They were treated with anti-biotics and recovered quickly. I hope that John Cole recovers quickly too!

 

[Karel]

My son had scarlet fever about 7 years ago when he was three. It wasn't a big deal. As soon as they start the antibiotics they are fine. The skin peeling tends to startle people though - my son's diaper was really something to look at. It's a side effect of the strep.

And while strep is considered contagious, I don't think my family has ever caught it from another family member. I do think more kids are prone to it then others.

Don't worry about the scarlet fever - the antibiotics will take care of everything.

 

[tkd lisa]

DD who is now 10 had it for pretty much 3 months straight about 6 years ago. She caught it New Years Day. I freaked when the dr said scarlet fever too. The first words out of my mouth were "In Little Women, Beth DIED from scarlet fever!!"

In her case, the strep just lodged in her tonsils and WOULDN"T go away. As long as she was on the antibiotics her fever would go down, but as soon as the antibiotics were over, it would be back within a day or so.

We eventually got her tonsils out the end of March and she's been fine ever since.

 

[honeywolf7]

I don't have any personal experience with it, although I know my mom does because she had custody of my aunt when my aunt had it back in the 1960's (my mom's parents both died when she was in college and my aunt was 10 years younger than her.) I know it's not as bad as it was back then. Sending prayers and PD to John Cole.

 

[cgcw]

My DS8 had it last spring. He spiked a high fever on a Monday, Tuesday we took him to the doctor, they did a strep test and it came back negative. He was miserable. The high fever continued every day and I was on the phone every day with the doctor. They kept saying it was a viral thing which needed to run its course. Friday morning he woke up with the rash. I knew it was scarlett fever but still the doctors office insisted it wasn't. I insisted he was going to be seen even though they didn't feel it was necessary (huh?). We went in and they said it didn't look like a scarlett fever rash to them. At this point, I felt like I was begging to get a throat culture done. Sure enough, it was positive (no surprise to me). He started his round of antibiotics but still did not feel up to going to school Monday or Tuesday the next week. It took a lot out of him
Best of luck with your son. Hopefully he'll be fine - it's hard but give it time.

 

[SeaSpray]

My niece had strep throat a LOT as a child. She's now 31 yrs old, but about 5 or 6 years ago she got Scarlet Fever and recovered completely.

I do understand how scary that diagnosis can sound. When the doctor told me my DS14 had Whooping Cough last fall I was concerned as well.

All of the names of the "old" illnesses still can cause fear for us moms!

*hugs* to you and your DS.