Scarlatina

Scarlatina
Also called scarlet fever, a disease caused by infection with group A streptococcal bacteria that occurs in a small proportion of people with strep throat. The incubation period between contracting strep and the onset of scarlet fever is short, typically 72 hours but may range from 1 to 7 days. Illness usually begins with a fever and sore throat and may be accompanied by chills, vomiting, abdominal pain and malaise. The strep bacteria produces a toxin that causes a rash that appears 1 to 2 days after the onset of illness. The rash initially appears on the neck and chest, then spreads over the body. Typically the rash begins as small red macules which gradually become elevated. The redness fades over a few days and the patient is left with a rough "sandpaper" feeling rash. While the rash is still red the patient may develop what are called Pastia's lines, bright red coloration of the creases under the arm and in the groin. The rash usually lasts for 3 days. As the rash fades, desquamation (peeling) may occur around the finger tips, toes, and groin area. The throat culture should be positive for group A Strep. There is a rapid antigen test (throat swab). Therapy is designed to treat the infection with antibiotics (usually penicillin) and relieve symptoms with analgesics, rest, and plenty of fluids. Scarlet fever is usually not a serious illness when treated promptly. Improvement typically begins within 24 hours of starting treatment. Very rarely do the bacteria spread to other parts of the body. If it does, the result may be ear infections, sinusitis, glomerulonephritis or rheumatic fever.
* * *
An acute exanthematous disease, caused by infection with streptococcal organisms producing erythrogenic toxin, marked by fever and other constitutional disturbances, and a generalized eruption of closely aggregated points or small macules of a bright red color followed by desquamation in large scales, shreds, or sheets; mucous membrane of the mouth and fauces is usually also involved. SYN: scarlet fever. [through It. fr. Mediev. L. scarlatum, scarlet, a scarlet cloth]
- anginose s., s. anginosa a form of s. in which the throat affection is unusually severe. SYN: Fothergill disease (2).
- s. hemorrhagica a form of s. in which blood extravasates into the skin and mucous membranes, giving to the eruption a dusky hue; frequent bleeding from the nose and into the intestine also occurs.
- s. latens, latent s. a form of s. in which the rash is absent, but other complications of streptococcal infection occur, such as acute nephritis.
- s. maligna a severe scarlet fever in which the patient is quickly overcome with the intensity of the systemic intoxication.
- s. rheumatica SYN: dengue.
- s. simplex a mild form of the disease.

* * *

scar·la·ti·na .skär-lə-'tē-nə n SCARLET FEVER
scar·la·ti·nal -'tēn-əl adj

* * *

n.

* * *

scar·la·ti·na (skahr″lə-teґnə) [L. “scarlet”] scarlet fever. scarlatinal adj

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • scarlatină — SCARLATÍNĂ, scarlatine, s.f. Boală infecţioasă, contagioasă şi epidemică (mai ales la copii), care se manifestă prin febră, dureri de gât şi o erupţie roşie pe tot corpul, urmată de descuamare. – Din fr. scarlatine. Trimis de RACAI, 07.12.2003.… …   Dicționar Român

  • Scarlatina —   [aus vulgärlateinisch febris scarlatina, zu mittellateinisch scarlatum »rote Farbe«] die, , der Scharlach …   Universal-Lexikon

  • scarlatina — (n.) 1803, from Mod.L. scarlatina (Sydenham, 1676), from It. scarlattina (Lancelotti, 1527), fem. of scarlattino (adj.), dim. of scarlatto scarlet (see SCARLET (Cf. scarlet)). It is a synonym for scarlet fever, not a milder form of it …   Etymology dictionary

  • scarlatina — [skär΄lə tē′nə] n. [ModL < ML ( febris) scarlatina, scarlet (fever)] nontechnical term for a mild form of SCARLET FEVER scarlatinal adj …   English World dictionary

  • Scarlatina — Scar la*ti na, n. [NL.: cf. F. scarlatine. See {Scarlet}.] (Med.) Scarlet fever. {Scar la*ti nal}, a. {Scar*lat i*nous} (# or #), a. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scarlatīna — (sc. febris), das Scharlachfieber …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Scarlatina — vgl. Scharlach …   Das Wörterbuch medizinischer Fachausdrücke

  • scarlatina — scarlatinal, scarlatinous /skahr leuh tee neuhs, skahr lat n euhs/, adj. /skahr leuh tee neuh/, n. Pathol. 1. See scarlet fever. 2. a mild form of scarlet fever. [1795 1805; < NL (febris) scarlatina scarlet fever, deriv. of ML scarlata scarlet… …   Universalium

  • scarlatina — scar•la•ti•na [[t]ˌskɑr ləˈti nə[/t]] n. 1) pat scarlet fever 2) pat a mild form of scarlet fever • Etymology: 1795–1805; < NL (febris) scarlatina scarlet fever, der. of ML scarlata scarlet (cloth); see scarlet, ine I scar la•ti′nal,… …   From formal English to slang

  • Scarlatĭna febris — Scarlatĭna febris, das Scharlachfieber …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • scarlatina — noun Etymology: New Latin, from Medieval Latin scarlata scarlet Date: 1771 scarlet fever • scarlatinal adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”