Incubation Period: 1-3 days, rarely longer.

Signs and Symptoms

Strep throat: fever, sore and red throat, pus spots on the back of the throat, tender and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

Scarlet fever: includes all symptoms that occur with strep throat, as well as strawberry tongue and rash on the skin and inside the mouth. High fever, nausea and vomiting may occur. The rash on the skin is normally easily felt but not seen. The tongue is usually white before the appearance of the strawberry tongue.

Methods of Transmission

Direct or intimate contact with an infected person or carrier. Rarely, by contaminated objects or hands. Outbreaks of strep throat may follow ingestion of contaminated foods, such as milk, egg salad or deviled eggs.

Minimum Control Measures

Communicable Period: With antibiotic treatment, communicability is eliminated within 24 hours. Variable for untreated cases. Can spread through mild, unrecognized cases.

Other Information

Medical attention is essential. Untreated children may develop severe complications, including rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis (kidney disease).