Scarlet fever is a contagious childhood infection caused by streptococcus bacteria. It occurs most often in children between the ages of 2 and 10.
Basically, scarlet fever is strep throat with a rash produced by the bacteria.

Scarlet fever can have serious complications if it goes untreated. It can lead to abscesses on the tonsils or, rarely, rheumatic fever, which may develop two to three weeks after the rash appears.

After treatment with antibiotics for 10 days, or one shot of penicillin, the fever, sore throat and headache usually disappear, although the rash may linger.

The good news is that prompt treatment for scarlet fever usually results in full recovery.