Cases of scarlet fever are at three times their usual levels with over 7,500 infections seen across the UK, a senior health official has confirmed.
Scarlet fever is one of several infections that can be caused by Group A Strep bacteria. While the bacteria usually causes mild infections that can be treated with antibiotics, in rare cases it can become invasive and cause life-threatening illnesses.
The most common initial symptoms of scarlet fever are a temperature, sore throat and swollen glands which tend to be followed by a sandpapery rash that spreads from the chest and tummy, while a red and swollen "strawberry tongue" is also a distinctive sign of the infection. Despite the soaring number of cases, health officials are understood to believe that the number of scarlet fever cases have not yet peaked, meaning infection levels are likely to continue rising.
