"What are the symptoms of scarlet fever?"

Scarlet Fever: An Acute Respiratory Infectious Disease

Scarlet fever is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus, characterized by diverse and prominent clinical manifestations. The symptoms of scarlet fever range from initial flu-like symptoms to typical skin rashes, and potentially progressing to peeling skin and other accompanying symptoms, all of which constitute the complete clinical picture of this disease:

1. Initial Symptoms

In the early stages of infection, patients often present with symptoms similar to the flu, such as fever, headache, and sore throat.

2. Typical Skin Rashes

Subsequently, the patient's skin develops diffuse bright red rashes, which are the most characteristic symptom of scarlet fever.

3. Peeling Skin

After the rashes subside, patients may experience skin peeling, particularly pronounced on the palms and soles of the feet.

4. Other Accompanying Symptoms

Scarlet fever can also be accompanied by symptoms such as "strawberry tongue," enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, nausea, and vomiting.

5. Severe Complications

In severe cases, scarlet fever can even lead to serious complications such as toxic myocarditis or septic shock. Hence, utmost importance should be given to the diagnosis and treatment of scarlet fever, with prompt measures taken to prevent disease progression.