3 Cases of Scarlet Fever at DC School

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Three students at a D.C. elementary school have been diagnosed with scarlet fever. The disease doesn't carry the same dangers it used to, but parents are still worried. Symptoms include a sunburn-like rash, red lines on the skin, and a bumpy tongue.

The school district says it's not an outbreak, but they do have three confirmed cases of scarlet fever at one of the elementary schools. The problem is doctors say is very contagious, easily spread, and if left untreated it could cause more serious problems.

It was about two weeks ago when parents at Terrell Elementary School say they got a disturbing letter sent home by school administrators. The letter told them a student at school had scarlet fever.

"I really didn't know what scarlet fever was," says parent Linda Riley.

"I have heard bits and pieces about scarlet fever all my life, never really knew too much about it though," another parent says.

Three weeks ago, Michelle Hamilton's 3-year-old grandson got sick.

"I didn't understand where the bumps were coming from-- thought it was a heat rash at first," said Hamilton.

Doctors at Children's Hospital confirmed her grandson had scarlet fever. The disease is an infection caused by the same bacteria that causes strep throat.

"It tends to be a rash over most of your body-- red or sandpaper feeling rash. You often have other symptoms as well fever sore throat sometime stomach ache and headache," said Dr. Lee Beers, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital.
 

• TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SCARLET FEVER, CLICK ON THIS LINK TO INFORMATION FROM THE CDC

Beers says it's not heard about a lot, but scarlet fever is actually pretty common. She says on any given week, she treats a couple of cases of scarlet fever. Usually it's in children younger than 5.

"It's contagious just like the common cold is contagious," Beers said.

But unlike the common cold, a lot of people don't know much about scarlet fever. So, when they hear about the disease, they think the worst.

"I think people sometimes worry about it. Way back before we had antibiotics or penicillin, it could be a serious disease if it went untreated but now it's easily treatable," said Beers.