Scarlet fever is an infection. The bacteria makes a toxin or poison and causes the

scarlet - coloured rash that gives this illness its name. This scarlet rash can be treated with antibiotics.

The rash is the most striking sign of scarlet fever. It usually begins looking like a bad sunburn with tiny bumps and it may itch. The rash usually appears first on the neck and face, often leaving a clear unaffected area around the mouth. It spreads to the chest and back, then to the rest of the body. By the sixth day, the rash usually fades, but the affected skin may begin to peel.

Scarlet fever happens because of a throat infection. The fever usually stops within 3 to 5 days, and the sore throat disappears soon afterwards.

The infection itself is usually cured with a 10-day course of antibiotics, but it may take a few weeks for the tonsils and swollen glands to return to normal.