Scarlet Danger

“Elizabeth had caught the scarlet fever; her illness was severe, and she was in the greatest danger” (28).

From the 17th century to the 19th century, scarlet fever was a feared disease that usually only affected children, though adults did acquire it on occasion. Due to a lack of medical development, there was no way of curing it, and often times complications arose leading to dangerous fevers. It frequently accompanies strep throat, and appears as a red rash, generally beginning on the tongue and spreading to the rest of the body; without proper treatment, rheumatic fever can occur.

Works Cited: "Scarlet Fever." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 13 Apr. 2008. 26 Aug. 2008 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/scarletfever_g.htm