Scarlet fever has hit a number of schools in South Ayrshire.
Health chiefs say they are dealing with a ‘a small number of’ cases with parents being put on high alert.
Ayrshire Live can confirm that Kincaidston Primary is one of the schools affected. Health chiefs were unable to disclose the other schools where infections have also been found.
Concerned parents were sent a letter at the Ayr school to inform them of the symptoms and what actions to take.
The letter instructs that children should be treated with antibiotics in order to “minimise the complications” and reduce the spread to others.
Symptoms to look out for include a sore throat, headache, fever nausea and vomiting. Those initial symptoms are followed by a thin red rash, which typically first appears on the chest and stomach before rapidly spreading to other parts of the body.
The rash can be harder to spot on more darkly pigmented skin, but it should feel like ‘sandpaper’. The letter also notes that the face can be flushed red but pale around the mouth.
Parents have been warned that children who have been struck down with chickenpox or influenza recently are more likely to develop a more serious infection of scarlet fever.
Severe symptoms to look out for include a persistent high fever, cellulitis (skin infection), arthritis (joint pain and swelling).
Lynne McNiven, Director of Public Health said: “Our Public Health department has been notified of a small number of cases of scarlet fever within a number of schools in South Ayrshire.
“As a precaution, we have written to parents and carers of children who attend these schools with information about the symptoms, and what to do if they develop symptoms.
“There have been increased number of scarlet fever cases across Scotland in recent weeks and so we are asking parents and guardians to be vigilant of the symptoms and to help stop the spread.”
What you can do if you think you or your child has scarlet fever
- Contact your GP practice or NHS 111 out of hours as soon as possible for a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
- Make sure that your child takes the full course of any antibiotics prescribed by the doctor.
- Stay at home, away from nursery, school or work for at least 24 hours after starting the antibiotic treatment, to avoid spreading the infection.
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