1944 — Scarlet Fever, Int. List No. 8 (Communicable diseases)            —   422

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard Jan 3, 2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

 –422  US Public Health Svc. Vital Statistics…1945, Part I…Mortality Data…, p. 9.[1]

Narrative Information

 CDC on Scarlet Fever: “Scarlet fever – or scarlatina – is a bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus or ‘group A strep.’ These bacteria cause many types of infections, including strep throat and skin infections. Certain strep bacteria produce a toxin (poison) that can cause a red rash—the ‘scarlet’ of scarlet fever. Scarlet fever is usually a mild illness that most commonly affects children between 5 and 15 years old.

“People can spread scarlet fever germs to others. Group A strep bacteria can live in a person’s nose and throat. The bacteria spread through contact with droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze. If you touch your mouth, nose, or eyes after touching something with these droplets on it, you may become ill. You can also get sick after drinking from the same glass or eating from the same plate as a sick person. People can get scarlet fever from contact with sores from group A strep skin infections.

“…Illness usually begins with a fever and sore throat. There also may be chills, vomiting, or abdominal pain. The tongue may have a whitish coating and appear swollen. It may also have a ‘strawberry’-like (red and bumpy) appearance. The throat and tonsils may be very red and sore, and swallowing may be painful. Although the cheeks might have a flushed appearance, there may be a pale area around the mouth.

“Usually the characteristic red rash appears one or two days after the illness begins. However, the rash can appear before illness or up to 7 days later. The rash usually appears first on the neck, underarm, and groin (the area where your stomach meets your thighs). Over time, the rash spreads over the body. Typically, the rash begins as small, flat red blotches that gradually become fine bumps and feel like sandpaper. Underarm, elbow, and groin skin creases may become brighter red than the rest of the rash. Doctors call these Pastia’s lines. The scarlet fever rash generally fades in about 7 days. As the rash fades, the skin may peel around the finger tips, toes, and groin area. This peeling can last up to several weeks….

“There is no vaccine to prevent scarlet fever….” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Scarlet Fever: A Group A Streptococcal Infection.” 1-22-2018.)

CDC on Scarlet Fever and Strep Throat: “Bacteria called group A Streptococcus (group A strep) cause scarlet fever. These bacteria are also the cause of strep throat. The bacteria sometimes make a toxin (poison), which causes a rash – the “scarlet” of scarlet fever.” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Scarlet Fever: All You Need to Know.”

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Scarlet Fever: A Group A Streptococcal Infection.” 1-22-2018. Accessed 6-20-2018 at: https://www.cdc.gov/features/scarletfever/index.html )

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Scarlet Fever: All You Need to Know.” Accessed 9-18-2023 at: https://www.cdc.gov

United States Public Health Service, Federal Security Agency. Vital Statistics of the United States 1945, Part I. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, Washington: 1947. Accessed 1-3-2024 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsus/vsus_1945_1.pdf

[1] Summary and Rate Tables. Table V. Deaths From Each Cause and Crude Death Rates: United States, 1944 and 1945.