Anna Karenina vocabulary

a disease which can occur as a result of a group A streptococcus (group A strep) infection, also known as Streptococcus pyogenes. The signs and symptoms include a sore throat, fever, headaches, swollen lymph nodes, and a characteristic rash. The rash is red and feels like sandpaper and the tongue may be red and bumpy. It most commonly affects children between five and 15 years of age.

Scarlet fever affects a small number of people who have strep throat or streptococcal skin infections. The bacteria are usually spread by people coughing or sneezing. It can also be spread when a person touches an object that has the bacteria on it and then touches their mouth or nose. [...]

There is no vaccine. Prevention is by frequent handwashing, not sharing personal items, and staying away from other people when sick. The disease is treatable with antibiotics, which prevent most complications. Outcomes with scarlet fever are typically good if treated. Long-term complications as a result of scarlet fever include kidney disease, rheumatic heart disease, and arthritis. It was a leading cause of death in children in the early 20th century

---

disease progression:

untreated strep throat ---> scarlet fever ---> infective endocarditis

Therefore it is important to get a sore throat that presents with white nodules treated—otherwise you may end up with a serious, lifelong illness (and please wash your hands frequently so you don't spread this disease!)

^{photo 3: heart valve with infective endocarditis, by http://phil.cdc.gov/PHIL_Images/02122002/00007/PHIL_851_lores.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=723912}