Which region is being hit hardest by scarlet fever?

A map today highlighted the spread of scarlet fever across England and Wales amid the highest levels of cases since the 1960s.

Government data shows 15,549 have been struck down by the ‘Victorian’ infection so far this year.

This is almost double the 8,728 cases in the first 13 weeks of 2016, considered the worst year for scarlet fever in five decades. 

Officials are unsure as to why it is continuing its rampage across Wales and England, but experts have blamed a fall in living standards. 

Public Health England once again called for parents to be aware of the contagious infection and to look out for signs of scarlet fever.

The South East region of England was hit the hardest during the last week – with 348 cases of scarlet fever recorded. Some 277 cases of scarlet fever were noted in the North West and 191 in Yorkshire and the Humber

Data released today by the Government agency shows there were 1,624 cases of scarlet fever recorded in the week ending April 1. 

The South East region of England was hit the hardest during the seven days – with 348 cases of the potentially fatal bug recorded.

Some 277 cases of scarlet fever were noted in the North West and 191 in Yorkshire and the Humber, the statistics also reveal.

At the other end of the scale, just 60 cases of scarlet fever were recorded in the West Midlands and 79 in the North East. 

Nick Phin, deputy director of National Infection Service at PHE, claimed cases have not been this high in more than three decades.

He said: ‘The numbers we have seen this year have not been seen since 1982 when PHE took over responsibility for collecting data on notifiable diseases.  

Scarlet fever is most common in children under 10. It causes a sore throat, fever and rash which can occasionally lead to pneumonia

Scarlet fever is most common in children under 10. It causes a sore throat, fever and rash which can occasionally lead to pneumonia

What is scarlet fever and what are the symptoms to look out for?

Scarlet fever is a bacterial illness that mainly affects children. It causes a distinctive pink-red rash.

The illness is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria, which are found on the skin and in the throat.

First symptoms of scarlet fever include a sore throat and fever which may be accompanied by a headache, nausea and vomiting.

Between 12 to 48 hours after this, a characteristic fine, sandpapery rash develops, often appearing first on the chest or stomach.

Other symptoms include a white coating on the tongue, which peels a few days later leaving the tongue red and swollen (this is known as strawberry tongue).

Cases are more common in children although adults of all ages can also develop scarlet fever.

Individuals who think they or their child may have scarlet fever should consult their GP.

Source: NHS Choices 

‘It is important to be aware that, with treatment, scarlet fever is not usually a serious illness. The antibiotics used to treat the infection reduce the risk of spread to others.’

Mr Phin added that ‘it is not uncommon to see a rise in cases of scarlet fever at this time of year’ but PHE is ‘monitoring the situation closely’.

However, a study published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet back in November suggested cases have are the highest in 50 years. 

WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OF SCARLET FEVER?

According to certain scientists of ancient diseases, the Greek founder of Western medicine Hippocrates may have described scarlet-fever like symptoms as far back as the 4th century BCE.

It was first officially identified in 1953 when the Italian doctor Giovanni Ingrassia named it ‘rossalia’ .

The name scarlet fever was introduced by the British doctor Thomas Sydenham in 1676. 

At this time, scarlet fever was considered a mild disease due to its rarity, particularly in comparison to plagues.

Yet, the Industrial Revolution of around the 1820s in western Europe and the US caused population booms that led to overcrowded cities and poor hygiene.

Such conditions caused scarlet fever to thrive, with fatalities rising in the UK from two per sent of cases in the late 18th century to 15 per cent in 1834. 

Squalid living conditions caused the disease to occur in cycling epidemics that did not affect rural areas. 

During the 1850s, Charles Darwin lost two children to the disease, which is also believed to have caused the American author Helen Keller to lose her sight and hearing.

A push for public health and urban cleanliness during the end of the 19th century is thought to have caused scarlet fever cases to tail off. 

Yet, with numbers rising steadily since 2013, experts fear poor nutrition and a fall in living standards may encourage the resurgence of this Victoria-era disease. 

An analysis showed there was a rate of 33 infections for every 100,000 people in 2016, with 19,206 recorded in total. This figure was the highest since 1967.  

Scarlet fever is most common in children under 10. It causes a sore throat, fever and rash which can occasionally lead to pneumonia. 

It was a very common infection in the Victorian era – and far more deadly – but cases dramatically reduced, partly due to better hygiene.

If treated promptly, the disease is restricted to no more than unpleasant symptoms.

However, it was a death sentence for hundreds of thousands in the late 1800s and early 1900s. 

Cases have been on the up since 2014, but officials have yet been able to pinpoint why they have shot up in the past three years.  

Health officials remain unclear as to why scarlet fever has suddenly returned and blame ‘long-term natural cycles’.

But researchers in the US, where cases are also on the rise, have linked it to a super-resistant and aggressive strain of bacteria.

This theory has repeatedly been ruled out by PHE which claims to have not found any evidence despite rigorous lab testing.

It is expected that the numbers will continue to rise further over the coming weeks as the bacteria is most active in March and April. 

The disease is caused by the bacteria group A streptococcus and spread through coughs and sneezes or touching contaminated objects.

In most cases it clears up by itself but GPs may prescribe penicillin if symptoms are particularly nasty and there is a risk of complications. 

Experts have also previously blamed poor lifestyles, growing financial inequality and a fall in living standards for the sharp surge in cases of scarlet fever.

Other common Victorian diseases which were thought to have become things of the past but are now making a comeback include whooping cough and scurvy.  



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