Antibiotics should not be used to treat scarlet fever or other strep A infections.
This is false. Scarlet fever is always treated with antibiotics once it has been diagnosed by a doctor, regardless of severity.
A post on Facebook wrongly claims that strep A and scarlet fever do not need to be treated with antibiotics and instead encourages the use of homeopathic and alternative treatments—one of which is known to have dangerous side effects.
The post also falsely claims that extremely high body temperatures are not dangerous in children and that Calpol can suppress the immune system and cause health issues later in life.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that there has been an increased rate of scarlet fever and invasive group A strep (iGAS) recently.
As of 12 December, the deaths of sixteen children since September in England were recorded within seven days of an iGAS infection when the bacteria enters deeper into the body, sometimes including the bloodstream.
Group A streptococcus (or strep A) is a common bacteria that can be responsible for a range of diseases, ranging from mild to severe. The bacteria can cause scarlet fever, a disease most common in children, with symptoms of fever, sore throat, rash and a ‘strawberry’ swelling of the tongue.
The Facebook post claims: “Scarlet fever and Strep A is very treatable and don’t need antibiotics [...] Antibiotics should be GIVEN when it’s a life and death situation, not...
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