Scarlet fever health alert at Woodrow Wilson

A single case of Scarlet fever has been confirmed in the Newton Community School District at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School today. According to principal Nancy Van Wyk, the student already was out sick and later was re-diagnosed with Scarlet fever. The school was notified by the child's parents earlier this afternoon.

The following email was sent by the Woodrow Wilson Health Services to parents with students attending the elementary facility:

"Scarlet Fever is caused by bacteria, characterized by a rash and sore throat, and follows strep throat. It is highly contagious. Complications may include rheumatic fever. Your child must be diagnosed by your family physician. After rash, fever and sore throat are gone, your child must be seen again by the same physician. Students must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.

Scarlet fever occurs as follows:

• Sore throat for 3-5 days

• Fever, swollen glands in the neck, nausea, and vomiting

• Strep throat occurs 2-7 days after exposure

• Scarlet fever rash (resembling a bad sunburn) usually appears on the second day of the strep throat infection and lasts for six days after the sore throat symptoms began

• The infection is usually cured within 10-12 days

Additional things to keep in mind are to practice good hand washing, drink lots of fluids in order to stay hydrated and isolate from other children to prevent it from spreading.

Please notify the school if your child is diagnosed with Scarlet fever."

Because the diagnosed student already was out sick by the time doctors discovered he had Scarlet fever, school administrators are unsure what to expect in terms of how contagious the infection will be.

"I don't think we're concerned at this point other than we've just followed those normal procedures to make people aware," Van Wyk said. "It's normal flu season for us, but this is kind of upping the ante."

Van Wyk noted that standard practice at the school dictates any child with a fever must be fever free for 24 hours before re-entering school grounds. She also said the situation will be closely monitored within the coming weeks throughout the NCSD.