I just got back from the doctor with Tucker. Ugh. Strep AND scarletina. Joy. I have never heard of this before.
He is on chewable Amoxicillin for 10 days. Let’s pray Kambry doesn’t get this. It isn’t pretty 
Scarletina is a rash caused by infection somewhere in the body (usually the throat but often other places) with the Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus germ. (Scarlet fever is the full blown syndrome of untreated Strep infection with a much worse rash.) There are many strains of Streptococcus germ; this is the one that causes this rash. The immune system forms antibodies that cross react with not only parts of the Strep germ that act as a toxin but also normal tissues in the blood vessels of the body. When this happens in the skin, the blood vessels are injured, dilate, and a characteristic red, sandpapery rash develops. It is often first noted in the underpants area – where the skin stays the warmest.
If you suspect this rash, even in a child with no complaint of sore throat, you should get medical attention for proper diagnosis and treatment with complete course of an antibiotic. Group A Strep infections carry a small but definite risk of further reaction with the heart (rheumatic fever), which can cause permanent damage to the heart valves, or with the kidneys, causing dangerously high blood pressure (acute glomerulonephritis), or with the brain, causing a bizarre movement disorder (chorea, pronounced like Korea). The scarletina rash is also something to watch out for in any child with chickenpox because it may indicate a secondary infection with this potentially bad-acting germ. Call your doctor right away if you see a scarletina rash with known or suspected chickenpox.
A week or two after the rash fades you may notice some peeling of the skin especially of the arms and chest, and perhaps even peeling of the fingers and toes if the rash was severe. This is normal and harmless.
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About Tanya
[...] of step and Scarletina. What is Scarletina? It is one step below Scarlet Fever. Not fun, at all! posted here about our recent outbreak from this [...]
Chewable? I didn’t even know they make chewable Amoxicillin. Hailey loves the liquid form, as we have her on it now, from being sick, naturally. Almost looks like chickenpox. Keep us posted.
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Hope he feels better soon and nobody else gets sick!
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[...] of antibiotic season. In our home, Tucker is currently on Amoxicillin for strep and Scarletina (see post here) and Kambry just got off a 3 month stretch from constant Ear and Eye Infections. With antibiotics [...]
My 8-year-old daughter had it back in 2006 during Thanksgiving. It stunk, but we survived. From what I was told, its a step above strep, but below Scarlet Fever. *hugs* to you
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Poor kiddo! I have never heard of Scarletina- what a strange name, it sounds like a Disney Princess or something! Hope he makes a quick recovery!
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aww poor Tucker! I hope he feels better soon!
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