Scarlet Fever:
A parent's guide for infants and babies

Scarlet fever is a contagious infection of the upper respiratory tract (mostly the throat) that characteristically has a red, sandpaper-like rash. The infection is caused by a poison (toxin) produced by a bacterium called group A streptococcus. The rash appears 1–2 days after onset of symptoms (ie, sore throat and fever) and starts on the neck and spreads downward on the body. The rash generally covers all of the skin on the body with the exception of the face. Applying pressure to the rash will cause the skin to turn white. After 3–4 days, the rash begins to fade, and sometimes the skin peels when the rash disappears, similar to sunburn.