RFSymptoms: Safety netting advice
ChildrenScarlet fever
DATE LAST REVIEWED: 05/11/2026
When to seek further review
- Contact the GP if scarlet fever is suspected and has not been assessed. Tell the surgery before attending because it spreads easily.
- Arrange review if symptoms are not improving within a week after assessment, or sooner if worsening or treatment is not helping.
- Seek urgent advice for poor drinking, less pee, worsening throat pain, or chickenpox at the same time.
- Contact the GP if illness returns in the following weeks, especially with dark pee, swelling, joint pain or unusual tiredness.
- Do not wait for the suggested review time if symptoms become worse, new symptoms appear, or you are worried.
- If you need medical advice and are unsure which service can help, call NHS 111. This includes when your GP is closed or you cannot get the help you need. NHS 111 can direct you to an appropriate local service. You can call even if you are not sure whether symptoms are serious.
When to get emergency help
(Immediately dial 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department)
- Being unable to swallow saliva, drooling or rapidly increasing throat or neck swelling.
- Severe breathing difficulty.
- Rapid deterioration, severe pain, confusion or collapse.
- A purple or bruise-like rash that does not fade when pressed, or severe drowsiness.
- Severe difficulty breathing, pauses in breathing, grunting, or the skin pulling in deeply under or between the ribs.
- Being very difficult to wake or unresponsive.
- Being unusually floppy, confused or not responding as usual.
- Blue, grey, very pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue.
How to spot sepsis
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. It can get worse quickly. If someone is seriously unwell and may have sepsis, call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department. Do not wait for every sign, a high temperature or a rash.
An unwell child under 5 who has not had a pee or wet nappy for 12 hours needs emergency assessment. If you are unsure and there are no emergency signs, call NHS 111 for advice.
Sources
- NHS - Scarlet feverhttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scarlet-fever/
- NHS - Fever in childrenhttps://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/fever-in-children/
- NHS - Sepsishttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/
- NHS - When to use NHS 111https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-use-111/