SCARLET FEVER

Scarlet fever develops in some children who have strep throat. Without antibiotic treatment it can cause heart and other organ damage. A widespread rash often appears as well, and is often described as bright red (“scarlet”), which may not be a helpful descriptor among darker skinned children.⁣ On dark skin the rash is more easily seen and felt by texture, and can be characterized as “goose skin” or “sand paper” like.