Title page
Contents
About Public Health England 2
1. Summary of key changes to the guidelines 4
2. Background and epidemiology 4
3. Purpose 5
4. Case management 5
4.1. Signs and symptoms 5
4.2. Complications 6
4.3. Case definitions 6
4.4. Notification and public health action 6
4.5. Communication with local nurseries, schools and health professionals 7
5. Control of scarlet fever outbreaks 8
5.1. Reporting scarlet fever outbreaks 8
5.2. Outbreak definition 8
5.3. Initial actions to confirm the outbreak 8
5.4. Assess risk of spread 9
5.5. Assess risk of severe cases 9
5.6. Record keeping 10
5.7. Infection control advice 10
5.8. Communication with school staff and parents / guardians 11
6. Stepping up public health actions 11
6.1. Escalation of infection control measures 11
6.2. Further information for staff, parents / guardians and health professionals 12
6.3. Chemoprophylaxis 13
6.4. Varicella vaccination 13
6.5. Antivirals and flu vaccination 14
Resources 15
References 16
Appendix 1. Increased incidence of scarlet fever - letter for health professionals 19
Appendix 2. Increased incidence of scarlet fever - letter to schools 21
Appendix 3. Increased incidence of scarlet fever - letter for microbiologists 23
Appendix 4. Scarlet fever outbreak - letter for parents/guardians 24
Appendix 5. HPT risk assessment and action checklist - scarlet fever outbreak in nursery or school 25
Appendix 6. Algorithm for the public health management of scarlet fever cases and outbreaks in schools, nurseries and other childcare settings 26