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Scarlet fever, an acute exanthematous disease, marked by fever and other constitutional disturbances, and a generalized eruption of closely aggregated points or small macules of a bright red color, followed by desquamation in large scales, shreds, or sheets. The mucous membrane of the mouth and fauces is usually also involved. The incubation period varies from 5 to 12 days.

An infectious fever, with a diffused scarlet rash. scarlet fever.

Scarlet fever, which see.

Scarlet fever; a contagious febrile disease characterised by a scarlet eruption.

The characteristic symptoms of scarlatina are: - a scarlet flush, appearing about the second day of fever on the face, neck, and fauces; and progressively spreading over the body; terminating about the 7th day. Two great varieties may be reckoned :-the S. simplex seu febris seu benig'na seu sine angi’na, in which the fever is moderate and terminates with the efflorescence; prostration of strength being trifling, and the contagious property slight ;-and the S. Angino’sa seu Paristhmit'ica seu Cynanch'ica seu mitior, in which the fever is severe; the throat ulcerated; the eruption later in its appearance, and less extensive; often changing to a livid hue; the fever being highly contagious. Scarlati'na malig’na seu gra’vior, has been reckoned a variety of this, in its worst degree. It agrees with the Cynanche maligna of Cullen. Scarlatina belongs to the Major exanthemata, and is a disease, chiefly, of children. The eruption differs from that of measles, in being an efflorescence not raided above the cuticle. Measles, too, is attended with catarrhal symptoms, whilst the complication, in scarlatina, is cynanche. The treatment of simple scarlatina need not be much. It must be antiphlogistic. If the throat be very much ulcerated, acid gargles and counter-irritants must be employed; and if the affection become manifestly typhoid, and the sore throat of a malignant character, the case must be treated like typhus gravior; with antiseptic gargles of bark, acid, &c. Anasarca sometimes supervenes on scarlatina, and requires attention. Purgative are here demanded as well as the use of sorbefacients, such as mercury and aquill, &c.

Acute contagious fever with scarlet erythema; scarlet fever.

See scarlet fever, under fever.