11 — 235

lornajarrettblanchard January 1, 1955

–235 US PHS Vital Statistics of the US 1955: Vol. II – Mortality Statistics, p. 376.

Alabama 9 Nevada 1
Alaska ? New Hampshire 0
Arizona 0 New Jersey 2
Arkansas 1 New Mexico 1
California 10 New York 21
Colorado 3 North Carolina 10
Connecticut 4 North Dakota 1
Delaware 1 Ohio 12
District of Columbia 0 Oklahoma 5
Florida 4 Oregon 2
Georgia 10 Pennsylvania 10
Hawaii ? Rhode Island 1
Idaho 1 South Carolina 3
Illinois 9 South Dakota 1
Indiana 9 Tennessee 5
Iowa 5 Texas 11
Kansas 5 Utah 0
Kentucky 10 Vermont 0
Louisiana 2 Virginia 6
Maine 2 Washington 1
Maryland 3 West Virginia 4
Massachusetts 3 Wisconsin 9
Michigan 8 Wyoming 2
Minnesota 7
Mississippi 7
Missouri 11
Montana 0
Nebraska 3

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.)

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 )

Public Health Service. Vital Statistics of the United States 1955, Volume II, Mortality Data. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1957. Accessed 4-19-2023 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsus/VSUS_1955_2.pdf