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Join Date: 05 Mar 2015
Location:  OmanPosts: 24 |
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Oman health: Cases of scarlet fever rise in Muscat amid hot weather |
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Oman health: Cases of scarlet fever rise in Muscat amid hot weather
Muscat: High levels of heat and humidity have unleashed scarlet fever in the city with many clinics are witnessing a rush of patients with symptoms of this disease. The fever, which lasts for a week, is accompanied by a host of symptoms. Hundreds of child and adult patients are turning up at city clinics with scarlet fever symptoms such as sore throat, gastroenteritis and skin rashes. "We have seen around 150 to 200 cases last month," confirmed Dr Ankit Modi, Specialist – Paediatrician, Starcare Hospital. If left untreated, doctors said that scarlet fever can cause serious complications, including: rheumatic fever, ear and skin infections, throat abscesses, pneumonia and arthritis. "Most of these complications can be avoided with the intake of antibiotics," Dr Modi said. Doctors said that scarlet fever is an upper respiratory tract infection associated with a characteristic rash. "The rash appears within 24-48 hours after the onset of symptoms, although it may appear with the first signs of illness. It often begins around the neck and spreads over the body. The skin has a goose-pimple appearance and appears rough. The tongue turns strawberry in colour," Dr Modi added. "There is no vaccine against the disease, but it is effectively treated with antibiotics," said Paul Joseph of Badr Al Samaa Hospital, Ruwi. Doctors say that the scarlet fever is extremely contagious and can be contracted from an infected person's coughs and sneezes, touching the skin of a person, sharing contaminated towels, baths, clothes or bed linen. It can also be caught from carriers - people who have the bacteria in their throat or on their skin but do not show any symptoms. He also said a dose of antibiotics should be prescribed immediately after a patient is diagnosed with scarlet fever, adding "This should continue for 10 days without a break." Dr Santosh Ramaswamy, paediatrician, Atlas Medical Hospital, Ruwi, said that he is also seeing a large number of children suffering from viral fever with rashes. "Some are also suffering from gastroenteritis and vomiting because of the rising temperatures," he said. Source:timesofOman http://www.timesofoman.com/News/52685/Article-Oman-health-Cases-of-scarlet-fever-rise-in-Muscat-amid-hot-weather |
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