Toxic Streptococcal Infection in Children: Report on Two Cases with Uncharacteristic Course of Scarlet Fever
Introduction: Scarlet fever is usually a mild childhood disease caused by type A <i>streptococci</i>. This disease is spread by droplets, mainly through direct contact with an infected person or the objects they have used. In pediatrics, these are significant risk factors for the transmi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/3/540 |
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| author | Krystyna Stencel-Gabriel Dawid Konwant Karolina Szejnoga-Tułacz |
| author_facet | Krystyna Stencel-Gabriel Dawid Konwant Karolina Szejnoga-Tułacz |
| author_sort | Krystyna Stencel-Gabriel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Scarlet fever is usually a mild childhood disease caused by type A <i>streptococci</i>. This disease is spread by droplets, mainly through direct contact with an infected person or the objects they have used. In pediatrics, these are significant risk factors for the transmission of infectious diseases. However, it is important to remember the possibility of serious complications in the course of scarlet fever. Aim: This paper provides a discussion of two pediatric cases in order to determine the possibilities of diagnosis, differentiation, and treatment of patients with severe, non-obvious courses of scarlet fever. Methods: The case reports of two patients hospitalized in a pediatric department due to <i>Streptococcus pyogenes</i> infection were examined. Results: The patients were admitted to the emergency room with symptoms not directly indicative of type A streptococcal infection, which required further diagnosis. Both patients complained of weakness at the time of presentation. They had an elevated temperature, were dehydrated during the course of gastroenteritis, and passed liquid stools without pathological admixtures. Further stages of diagnosis and treatment required hospitalization in the pediatric department. Therapeutic benefit from the implemented treatment was obtained, and the patients were discharged in good general condition with further recommendations. Conclusions: Medical history, which is often very detailed, can be the key to making the final diagnosis and can supplement the data collected on the basis of laboratory tests. Scarlet fever does not always occur with a mild course, and sometimes its course can be quite non-specific and may require a thorough diagnosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:44:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b483b665dd57450793b16ef2ec047a44 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:44:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-b483b665dd57450793b16ef2ec047a442023-11-17T10:21:42ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672023-03-0110354010.3390/children10030540Toxic Streptococcal Infection in Children: Report on Two Cases with Uncharacteristic Course of Scarlet FeverKrystyna Stencel-Gabriel0Dawid Konwant1Karolina Szejnoga-Tułacz2Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-055 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-055 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-055 Katowice, PolandIntroduction: Scarlet fever is usually a mild childhood disease caused by type A <i>streptococci</i>. This disease is spread by droplets, mainly through direct contact with an infected person or the objects they have used. In pediatrics, these are significant risk factors for the transmission of infectious diseases. However, it is important to remember the possibility of serious complications in the course of scarlet fever. Aim: This paper provides a discussion of two pediatric cases in order to determine the possibilities of diagnosis, differentiation, and treatment of patients with severe, non-obvious courses of scarlet fever. Methods: The case reports of two patients hospitalized in a pediatric department due to <i>Streptococcus pyogenes</i> infection were examined. Results: The patients were admitted to the emergency room with symptoms not directly indicative of type A streptococcal infection, which required further diagnosis. Both patients complained of weakness at the time of presentation. They had an elevated temperature, were dehydrated during the course of gastroenteritis, and passed liquid stools without pathological admixtures. Further stages of diagnosis and treatment required hospitalization in the pediatric department. Therapeutic benefit from the implemented treatment was obtained, and the patients were discharged in good general condition with further recommendations. Conclusions: Medical history, which is often very detailed, can be the key to making the final diagnosis and can supplement the data collected on the basis of laboratory tests. Scarlet fever does not always occur with a mild course, and sometimes its course can be quite non-specific and may require a thorough diagnosis.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/3/540streptococcal infectionchildrenscarlet feverhospitalization |
| spellingShingle | Krystyna Stencel-Gabriel Dawid Konwant Karolina Szejnoga-Tułacz Toxic Streptococcal Infection in Children: Report on Two Cases with Uncharacteristic Course of Scarlet Fever Children streptococcal infection children scarlet fever hospitalization |
| title | Toxic Streptococcal Infection in Children: Report on Two Cases with Uncharacteristic Course of Scarlet Fever |
| title_full | Toxic Streptococcal Infection in Children: Report on Two Cases with Uncharacteristic Course of Scarlet Fever |
| title_fullStr | Toxic Streptococcal Infection in Children: Report on Two Cases with Uncharacteristic Course of Scarlet Fever |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toxic Streptococcal Infection in Children: Report on Two Cases with Uncharacteristic Course of Scarlet Fever |
| title_short | Toxic Streptococcal Infection in Children: Report on Two Cases with Uncharacteristic Course of Scarlet Fever |
| title_sort | toxic streptococcal infection in children report on two cases with uncharacteristic course of scarlet fever |
| topic | streptococcal infection children scarlet fever hospitalization |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/3/540 |
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