30 May 2011
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 30) is investigating a fatal case involving a seven-year-old girl.
The patient presented with fever, sore throat, vomiting and skin rash on May 20. She consulted a private doctor but her condition deteriorated. She was being referred and admitted to Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) on May 27. Her condition further deteriorated and complicated with toxic shock syndrome. She passed away on May 29.
Laboratory tests on the patient's blood and blister fluid specimens by QMH both yielded positive results for Streptococus pyogenes (Group A).
CHP's investigation revealed that the girl did not have recent travel history. Her home and school contacts were asymptomatic. Investigation continues.
A CHP spokesman explained that scarlet fever is caused by Group A Streptococus bacteria. It can be cured by appropriate antibiotic. This disease usually affects children between two to eight years of age. It presents as fever, sore throat and rash. The rash appears over trunk, neck and spreads to the limbs especially on axilla, elbow and groin.
"Typically scarlet fever rash does not involve the face. It is transmitted through either respiratory route or direct contact with infected respiratory secretions," he said.
People who are suspected to have scarlet fever should consult their doctors.
A total of 268 cases of scarlet fever have been reported so far this year. There were 128, 187 and 235 cases in 2010, 2009 and 2008 respectively. No fatal cases were reported in the past five years.
To prevent infection, members of the public are advised to
* maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;
* keep hands clean and wash hands properly;
* wash hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions e.g. after sneezing;
* cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharge properly;
* maintain good ventilation.