What Are the Precautions to Take After Recovering from Scarlet Fever?

For patients in the acute phase, it is best to stay in bed. To prevent scarlet fever causing myocarditis and nephritis, patients should remain in bed for 2 to 3 weeks. Tableware should be disinfected daily, and towels and saliva towels should also be disinfected promptly and regularly. There are many things to pay attention to after the recovery of scarlet fever. What are the precautions after recovery from scarlet fever? Let's take a look.

I. Food Recommendations

1. High-calorie and high-protein liquid food is recommended, such as milk, soy milk, egg drop soup, egg custard, and other foods containing high-quality protein. Additionally, foods like lotus root powder, almond tea, lotus seed porridge, and malt extract can be given to supplement calories.

2. During the recovery phase, gradually transition to a semi-liquid diet with high protein and high calories, such as chicken puree, meat puree, shrimp puree, liver puree, vegetable porridge, thin noodles, poached eggs, and fine noodles.

3. When the condition improves, soft rice can be consumed.

4. Pay attention to hydration during high fever, including drinking beverages and eating fruits and vegetables.

5. If acute nephritis is present, a low-salt, low-protein, semi-liquid diet should be provided.

II. Food to Avoid for Scarlet Fever

1. Avoid foods that can trigger flare-ups. These foods, such as dog meat, lamb, sparrow meat, male chicken, black fish, crucian carp, sea eel, shrimp, crab, coriander, and pumpkin, can raise body temperature, exacerbate skin rashes, and worsen the condition.

2. Avoid spicy foods. Spicy foods can also cause flare-ups and directly irritate the throat and tonsils, leading to increased pain. These foods include chili peppers, chili sauce, chili oil, mustard, pickled mustard roots, curry, ginger, scallions, and five-spice powder.

3. Avoid overly sweet or salty foods. Excessive consumption of sweet foods can increase body heat and lead to indigestion and loss of appetite, such as chocolate, candy balls, fruit candies, milk candies, overly sweet syrups, and undiluted honey. Salty foods like salted fish, pickled vegetables, preserved meat, and roasted fish heads can irritate the throat, increase mucus secretion, and worsen the condition.

4. Avoid foods that stimulate the nervous system. Strong tea, coffee, and alcohol can stimulate the nervous system and cause excitement. Since scarlet fever patients have high fevers, their nervous system needs to remain calm. Consuming these foods can increase excitability and make the patient restless.

III. Additional Precautions

1. Respiratory isolation should be implemented for patients until three consecutive negative cultures of throat secretions are obtained, and no suppurative complications occur. This usually means at least 7 days from the start of treatment. During the isolation period, visitors should be avoided, and contacts should be medically observed for 7 days. For patients with persistently positive throat cultures, the isolation period should be appropriately extended.

2. Frequent ventilation is necessary in the living space. Windows should be opened for air exchange in the morning, afternoon, and evening, preferably more than three times, with each opening lasting at least 15 minutes.

3. Tableware, including towels and saliva towels, should be disinfected daily. After recovery, a comprehensive disinfection should be performed, including furniture, clothing, toys, etc. Bed linens should be exposed to sunlight for drying.

4. Acute phase patients should rest in bed. To prevent scarlet fever from causing myocarditis and nephritis, patients should remain in bed for 2 to 3 weeks.

5. Oral hygiene is important. Use dilute saltwater to rinse the mouth three to four times daily to remove oral secretions. If throat pain is severe, medication can be prescribed as per doctor's instructions.