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RED ALERT

Doctors’ warning to parents as Scarlet fever cases soar to highest level in Britain since the 1960s with 17,000 kids struck down this year

BRIT parents have been urged to check their kids for a "distinctive pink-red rash" as scarlet fever cases soar to the highest level since the 1960s.

Public Health England said the bacterial infection is most common among children aged between two and eight and is known to strike in the winter and spring months.

 Scarlet fever cases have reached the highest level in the UK since the 1960s
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Scarlet fever cases have reached the highest level in the UK since the 1960sCredit: Refer to Source - Alamy

The infection also causes symptoms such as fever, sore throats and a "strawberry tongue".

In the week ending January 28, there were 735 cases, making it the biggest seven-day outbreak since April 2017, according to reports.

Dr Theresa Lamagni, from Public Health England, said: "Whilst current rates are nowhere near those seen in the early 1900s, the magnitude of the recent upsurge is greater than any documented in the last century."

She added: "We are strongly urging people with symptoms of scarlet fever, which include a sore throat, headache and fever accompanied by a characteristic rash, to consult their GP."

 These group A Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria produce the toxin which eventually creates the red-rash
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These group A Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria produce the toxin which eventually creates the red-rashCredit: Getty - Contributor

Scarlet fever was a very common infection in the Victorian era, when it was far more deadly.

Thanks to better hygienic practices, the disease no longer displays symptoms that are as serious.

Although cases have been on the rise since 2014, officials have been unable to pinpot what caused the rise.

Dr Lamagni noted there was a recent escalation of cases across East Asia, in countries including Vietnam, China, South Korea and Hong Kong, the Mirror reported.

The final set of results are set to be calculated next week, but some official fear 2017 will be the second worst year on record.

PHE data shows there were 5,743 infections recorded in the second half of 2016, in comparison to 4,292 cases during the same period in 2016.

This Morning's Dr Chris Steele on the rise of Scarlet Fever infections in the UK

SCARLET FEVER - WHAT TO EXPECT

  • The illness usually begins with a fever and sore throat
  • Some kids may experience vomiting, abdominal pain and lower body temperature
  • The throat and tonsils may appear very red, before the 'strawberry' rash spreads, normally two days later
  • The rash may appear first on the neck, unerarm and groin before it progresses over the body


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