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The author discusses the role of Christianity in the arguments made by attorney Stanley Matthews in a case regarding the reading of the Bible in public schools in Cincinnati, Ohio. She mentions the death of Matthews' children from scarlet fever and the impact it had on its faith, the incorporation of his faith in his arguments against Bible reading, and the question religious education in public schools.

The scarlet fever epidemic of 1841 was one of the earliest serious health crises to confront Sydney. Largely forgotten, it is here reconstructed using contemporary newspaper accounts, letters, memoirs, and offi cial reports. These reveal a traumatic event which deeply affected the young Colony of New South Wales. It laid bare the helplessness felt by the public in the face of a new foe which claimed the vulnerable and innocent, exposed prejudices and wrong thinking about disease and its transmission, and revealed the lack of an organised response to public health threats in the colony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annual incidence of scarlet fever in Hong Kong remained elevated after an upsurge in 2011. Incidence increased from 3.3/10,000 children <5 years of age during 2005-2010 to 18.1/10,000 during 2012-2015. Incidence was higher among boys and was 32%-42% lower in the week following school holidays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A marked increase in the incidence rate of scarlet fever imposed a considerable burden on the health of children aged 5 to 15 years. The main purpose of this study was to depict the spatiotemporal epidemiological characteristics of scarlet fever in Jiangsu Province, China in order to develop and implement effective scientific prevention and control strategies.Methods: Smoothed map was used to demonstrate the spatial distribution of scarlet fever in Jiangsu Province. In addition, a retrospective space-time analysis based on a discrete Poisson model was utilized to detect clusters of scarlet fever from 2005 to 2015.Results: During the years 2005-2015, a total of 15,873 scarlet fever cases occurred in Jiangsu Province, with an average annual incidence rate of 1.87 per 100,000. A majority of the cases (83.67%) occurred in children aged 3 to 9 years. Each year, two seasonal incidence peaks were observed, the higher occurring between March and July, the lower between November and the following January. The incidence in the southern regions of the province was generally higher than that in the northern regions. Seven clusters, all of which occurred during incidence peaks, were detected via space-time scan statistical analysis. The most likely cluster and one of the secondary clusters were detected in the southern and northern high endemic regions, respectively.Conclusion: The prevalence of scarlet fever in Jiangsu Province had a marked seasonality variation and was relatively endemic in some regions. Children aged 3 to 9 years were the major victims of this disease, and kindergartens and primary schools were the focus of surveillance and control. Targeted strategies and measures should be taken to reduce the incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence rate for scarlet fever in South Korea is rising. During 2008-2015, we collected group A Streptococcus isolates and performed emm and exotoxin genotyping and disk-diffusion antimicrobial tests. Scarlet fever in South Korea was most closely associated with emm types emm4, emm28, emm1, and emm3. In 2015, tetracycline resistance started increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During a substantial elevation in scarlet fever (SF) notifications in 2014 a national genomic study was undertaken of Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococci, GAS) isolates from patients with SF with comparison to isolates from patients with invasive disease (iGAS) to test the hypotheses that the increase in SF was due to either the introduction of one or more new/emerging strains in the population in England or the transmission of a known genetic element through the population of GAS by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) resulting in infections with an increased likelihood of causing SF. Isolates were collected to provide geographical representation, for approximately 5% SF isolates from each region from 1st April 2014 to 18th June 2014. Contemporaneous iGAS isolates for which genomic data were available were included for comparison. Data were analysed in order to determine emm gene sequence type, phylogenetic lineage and genomic clade representation, the presence of known prophage elements and the presence of genes known to confer pathogenicity and resistance to antibiotics. Results: 555 isolates were analysed, 303 from patients with SF and 252 from patients with iGAS. Isolates from patients with SF were of multiple distinct emm sequence types and phylogenetic lineages. Prior to data normalisation, emm3 was the predominant type (accounting for 42.9% of SF isolates, 130/303 95%CI 37.5-48.5; 14.7% higher than the percentage of emm3 isolates found in the iGAS isolates). Post-normalisation emm types, 4 and 12, were found to be over-represented in patients with SF versus iGAS (p < 0.001). As single gene, ssa, was over-represented in isolates from patients with SF. No single phage was found to be over represented in SF vs iGAS. However, a "meta-ssa" phage defined by the presence of :315.2, SPsP6, MGAS10750.3 or HK360ssa, was found to be over represented. The HKU360.vir phage was not detected yet the HKU360.ssa phage was present in 43/63 emm12 isolates but not found to be over-represented in isolates from patients with SF. Conclusions: There is no evidence that the increased number of SF cases was a strain-specific or known mobile element specific phenomenon, as the increase in SF cases was associated with multiple lineages of GAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To reveal the difference of meteorological effect on scarlet fever in Beijing and Hong Kong, China, during different periods among 2004–2014. Methods The data of monthly incidence of scarlet fever and meteorological variables from 2004 to 2014 in Beijing and Hong Kong were collected from Chinese science data center of public health, meteorological data website and Hong Kong observatory website. The whole study period was separated into two periods by the outbreak year 2011 (Jan 2004–Dec 2010 and Jan 2011–Dec 2014). A generalized additive Poisson model was conducted to estimate the effect of meteorological variables on monthly incidence of scarlet fever during two periods in Beijing and Hong Kong, China. Results Incidence of scarlet fever in two districts were compared and found the average incidence during period of 2004–2010 were significantly different ( Z = 203.973, P < 0.001) while average incidence became generally equal during 2011–2014 ( Z = 2.125, P > 0.05). There was also significant difference in meteorological variables between Beijing and Hong Kong during whole study period, except air pressure ( Z = 0.165, P = 0.869). After fitting GAM model, it could be found monthly mean temperature showed a negative effect (RR = 0.962, 95%CI: 0.933, 0.992) on scarlet fever in Hong Kong during the period of 2004–2010. By comparison, for data in Beijing during the period of 2011–2014, the RRs of monthly mean temperature range growing 1 °C and monthly sunshine duration growing 1 h was equal to 1.196(1.022, 1.399) and 1.006(1.001, 1.012), respectively. The changes of meteorological effect on scarlet fever over time were not significant both in Beijing and Hong Kong. Conclusion This study suggests that meteorological variables were important factors for incidence of scarlet fever during different period in Beijing and Hong Kong. It also support that some meteorological effects were opposite in different period although these differences might not completely statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC) comprises over 100 general practices in England, with a population of around 1 million, providing a public health surveillance system for England and data for research.Aim: To demonstrate the scope of data with the RCGP Annual Report 2014-2015 (May 2014 to April 2015) by describing disparities in the presentation of six common conditions included in the report.Design and Setting: This is a report of respiratory and communicable disease incidence from a primary care sentinel network in England.Method: Incidence rates and demographic profiles are described for common cold, acute otitis media, pneumonia, influenza-like illness, herpes zoster, and scarlet fever. The impact of age, sex, ethnicity, and deprivation on the diagnosis of each condition is explored using a multivariate logistic regression.Results: With the exception of herpes zoster, all conditions followed a seasonal pattern. Apart from pneumonia and scarlet fever, the odds of presenting with any of the selected conditions were greater for females (P<0.001). Older people had a greater probability of a pneumonia diagnosis (≥75 years, odds ratio [OR] 6.37; P<0.001). Common cold and influenza-like illness were more likely in people from ethnic minorities than white people, while the converse was true for acute otitis media and herpes zoster. There were higher odds of acute otitis media and herpes zoster diagnosis among the less deprived (least deprived quintile, OR 1.32 and 1.48, respectively; P<0.001).Conclusion: The RCGP RSC database provides insight into the content and range of GP workload and provides insight into current public health concerns. Further research is needed to explore these disparities in presentation to primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was one of those busy days in the Children's Emergency Department (ED) in December. The consultant watched this curious behaviour and requested a blood gas. Concerns about Group A streptococcal infections resulted in sore throats and scarlet fever being referred to ED. [Extracted from the article]

Sentinel hospital surveillance was instituted in Australia to detect the presence of pandemic group A Streptococcus strains causing scarlet fever. Genomic and phylogenetic analyses indicated the presence of an Australian GAS emm12 scarlet fever isolate related to United Kingdom outbreak strains. National surveillance to monitor this pandemic is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcal scarlet fever (SSF) is characterized by an exanthem without enanthem, bullae, or exfoliation, and is known to be related to Staphylococcus aureus toxins, especially superantigens. It has been reported in children and young adults. Herein, we report the first case of an elderly patient with SSF caused by staphylococcal enterotoxin M (SEM), associated with otitis externa. The patient presented with maculopapular rashes on both arms, thighs, and abdomen and with erythroderma on the face, ears, neck, chest, and back, all of which was followed by desquamation on the face, ears, and trunk. A culture of ear discharge grew methicillin susceptible S. aureus that was only positive for SEM among the superantigens tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital data could be used to monitor disease activity and to detect emerging infections, and is motivated by its abundance, affordability and accessibility. Studies show that Google Trend data alone may not accurately predict incidence of influenza-like-illnesses, but there is a potential to capture the epidemiological characteristics or trend of diseases qualitatively and to provide early warning of epidemics. In this study, we validated the use of Google queries of scarlet fever using routine surveillance data, and inferred disease trend of scarlet fever in other countries/regions where specific surveillance for scarlet fever is not available. We collected scarlet fever surveillance data from Hong Kong, England, Germany and Taiwan from where surges in scarlet fever incidence have been reported. We obtained language-specific Google queries of scarlet fever corresponding to the time period where surveillance data was available in each country/region. We constructed Poisson regression models including trends and seasonality and tested for their significance using likelihood ratio tests, and also tested the presence of change point, separately for scarlet fever surveillance data and Google queries. Similar methods were applied to characterize Google query data for scarlet fever in other countries/regions. We identified change points in scarlet fever incidence resulting in long-term level changes from Hong Kong and England in 2011 and 2014, respectively. Although no change point was detected in Germany and Taiwan, both showed increasing trends. The overall characteristics identified from Google query data were consistent with those from existing surveillance data in each country/region, such as trend, seasonality and long-term change in disease incidence. Among 63 countries/regions studied, we identified level changes in Argentina, China, Egypt, Ireland, South Korea, Philippines, Serbia, Singapore and United Arab Emirates. 38/63 (60.3%) of the countries/regions showed increasing trends. Seasonality was frequently observed across countries/regions. We validated Google queries of scarlet fever using 4 countries/regions with existing surveillance data. Digital data suggested increased scarlet fever incidence globally especially in Europe and some parts of Asia. Our findings highlight the potential use of digital surveillance for detection of re-emerging and emerging diseases and may strengthen pandemic preparedness and response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I "It's The Sun Wot Won It" i was the headline that I The Sun i chose for their newspaper on 11 April 1992. Official advice tells us that I 'warning signs of invasive disease include a fever (temperature above 38 i I SP C sp i I ) and severe muscle aches'. i Since the term "severe" is fairly subjective, this could realistically include anyone with a fever. I The Sun i had campaigned hard against Kinnock who, himself, blamed I The Sun i for his loss. [Extracted from the article]

Studies on scarlet fever with meteorological factors included were few. We aimed to illustrate meteorological factors' effects on monthly incidence of scarlet fever. Cases of scarlet fever were collected from the report of legal infectious disease in Hefei City from 1985 to 2006; the meteorological data were obtained from the weather bureau of Hefei City. Monthly incidence and corresponding meteorological data in these 22 years were used to develop the model. The model of auto regressive integrated moving average with covariates was used in statistical analyses. There was a highest peak from March to June and a small peak from November to January. The incidence of scarlet fever ranges from 0 to 0.71502 (per 10 population). SARIMAX (1,0,0)(1,0,0) model was fitted with monthly incidence and meteorological data optimally. It was shown that relative humidity ( β = −0.002, p = 0.020), mean temperature ( β = 0.006, p = 0.004), and 1 month lag minimum temperature ( β = −0.007, p < 0.001) had effect on the incidence of scarlet fever in Hefei. Besides, the incidence in a previous month (AR( β) = 0.469, p < 0.001) and in 12 months before (SAR( β) = 0.255, p < 0.001) was positively associated with the incidence. This study shows that scarlet fever incidence was negatively associated with monthly minimum temperature and relative humidity while was positively associated with mean temperature in Hefei City, China. Besides, the ARIMA model could be useful not only for prediction but also for the analysis of multiple correlations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses updates in diagnosing and assessing fever and rash in children. Topics covered include the importance of describing the rash, the common causes of fever and rash in a child, and the importance and challenges in immunization. It also discusses post-exposure immunoglobulin therapy, the reported outbreak of measles and mumps in Great Britain, and the important role of community practitioners in supporting febrile children with rashes in their home environment.

Scarlet fever notifications surged across the United Kingdom in spring 2014. Molecular epidemiologic investigation of Streptococcus pyogenes infections in North-West London highlighted increased emm4 and emm3 infections coincident with the upsurge. Unlike outbreaks in other countries, antimicrobial resistance was uncommon, highlighting an urgent need to better understand the drivers of scarlet fever activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used multivirulence locus sequence typing to analyze 68 Yersinia pseudotuberculosis isolates from patients in Russia during 1973-2014, including 41 isolates from patients with Far East scarlet-like fever. Four genotypes were found responsible, with 1 being especially prevalent. Evolutionary analysis suggests that epidemiologic advantages could cause this genotype's dominance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To study present-day clinical manifestations of scarlatina. Material and methods. The authors have reviewed 138 case histories of children with scarlatina treated outpatiently and 51 case histories of hospitalized scarlatina children as well as social and age characteristics of 1657 children and 108 adults hospitalized in the infectious hospital N 1 in 19622001. Official data on scarlatina morbidity in Moscow and Russia for 1991-2001 are presented. Antibiotic sensitivity of 414 cultures of group A streptococci (GAS) isolated in 1987-1995 and 1996- 2001 was investigated. Results. Overall and seasonal scarlatina morbidities in 7- 14-year-olds appeared to rise significantly. In the majority of cases scarlatina took a mild course but in the adults clinical picture of the disease was rather severe. GAS demonstrated high sensitivity (about 100%) to betalactamic antibiotics. The percentage of erythromycin-resistant streptococcal cultures increased more than 9-fold and reached 1.9% (1996-2001). There is a marked trend to a proportional increase of GAS cultures resistant to tetracycline and gentamycin. Conclusion. Recently, changes have occurred in scarlatina epidemiological and clinical features. Different sensitivity of GAS to antibiotics must be taken into consideration for prescription of etiotropic treatment and prevention of scarlatina at jobs.

Diagnosis of nonmenstrual staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is often challenging. A female medical colleague had a rare entity, a staphylococcal pharyngitis complicated by TSS. The diagnosis was confirmed by isolation of tst -positive Staphylococcus aureus in throat culture and by identification of a specific Vβ2 expansion pattern of her T lymphocytes. Recent improvements in microbiology can be of great help for the diagnosis of nonmenstrual TSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because childhood rashes may be difficult to differentiate by appearance alone, it is important to consider the entire clinical presentation to help make the appropriate diagnosis. Considerations include the appearance and location of the rash; the clinical course; and associated symptoms, such as pruritus or fever. A fever is likely to occur with roseola, erythema infectiosum (fifth disease), and scarlet fever. Pruritus sometimes occurs with atopic dermatitis, pityriasis rosea, erythema infectiosum, molluscum contagiosum, and tinea infection. The key feature of roseola is a rash presenting after resolution of a high fever, whereas the distinguishing features in pityriasis rosea are a herald patch and a bilateral and symmetric rash in a Christmas tree pattern. The rash associated with scarlet fever usually develops on the upper trunk, then spreads throughout the body, sparing the palms and soles. Impetigo is a superficial bacterial infection that most commonly affects the face and extremities of children. Erythema infectiosum is characterized by a viral prodrome followed by the “slapped cheek” facial rash. Flesh-colored or pearly white papules with central umbilication occur with molluscum contagiosum, a highly contagious viral infection that usually resolves without intervention. Tinea is a common fungal skin infection in children that affects the scalp, body, groin, feet, hands, or nails. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin condition that may present with a variety of skin changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A scarlet fever outbreak began in mainland China and Hong Kong in 2011 (refs. 1-6). Macrolide- and tetracycline-resistant Streptococcus pyogenes emm12 isolates represent the majority of clinical cases. Recently, we identified two mobile genetic elements that were closely associated with emm12 outbreak isolates: the integrative and conjugative element ICE-emm12, encoding genes for tetracycline and macrolide resistance, and prophage ΦHKU.vir, encoding the superantigens SSA and SpeC, as well as the DNase Spd1 (ref. 4). Here we sequenced the genomes of 141 emm12 isolates, including 132 isolated in Hong Kong between 2005 and 2011. We found that the introduction of several ICE-emm12 variants, ΦHKU.vir and a new prophage, ΦHKU.ssa, occurred in three distinct emm12 lineages late in the twentieth century. Acquisition of ssa and transposable elements encoding multidrug resistance genes triggered the expansion of scarlet fever-associated emm12 lineages in Hong Kong. The occurrence of multidrug-resistant ssa-harboring scarlet fever strains should prompt heightened surveillance within China and abroad for the dissemination of these mobile genetic elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel differential equation epidemic model with freely transmitted viruses is introduced to investigate the transmission dynamics of scarlet fever in Northwest China. • The basic reproduction number is analyzed to demonstrate the disease-free equilibrium of the model is global asymptotic stable, the local asymptotic stability of the endemic equilibrium is also proved given the disease is uniformly persistent. • By visualizing the qualitative of the correlation between effective reproduction number and air pollutants, we explore the key factors influencing the scarlet fever incidence. As a common infectious disease, scarlet fever has exposed a tendency of slow fluctuating ups and downs in recent years with a certain periodicity. In this work, a novel differential equation epidemic model with freely transmitted viruses is introduced to investigate the transmission dynamics of scarlet fever in Northwest China. First, the correlation analysis reveals that the incidence rate of scarlet fever is significantly positively correlated with air pressure (r = 0.61), conversely negatively correlated with precipitation (r = −0.15). Furthermore, the basic reproduction number R 0 is derived, and this paper proves that the unique disease-free periodic solution P 0 is globally symptotically stable when R 0 < 1, while the disease is uniformly persistent and at least one positive periodic solution exists when R 0 > 1. Moreover, by studying the qualitative of correlation between the effective reproduction number and air pollutants or meteorological factors, the seasonal variation pattern of incidence is summarized. Our investigations suggest that the relevant epidemic prevention departments should pay close attention to changes in environmental factors of the five provinces of Northwest China to formulate timely prevention strategies before the arrival of the high-risk period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is doubt about the accuracy of some diagnoses, especially typhus, although those of smallpox and scarlet fever, being widely recognized by lay people, may be fairly accurate. To summarize, cases of scarlet fever, smallpox and other dermatological conditions comprised 3-3% of all admissions from 1826 to 1857. The small number of smallpox admissions could reflect a successful vaccination policy, which became mandatory from 1853. [Extracted from the article]

Claire Doyle I Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland i William Wallace (1791-1837) is credited as being the first "true dermatologist" in Dublin. Unfortunately, his pioneering advances and the activity of the Dublin Infirmary for Diseases of the Skin were brought to an abrupt end by his sudden death from typhus on 8 December 1837 aged 46 years. In 1818 Wallace founded "The Dublin Infirmary for Diseases of the Skin". [Extracted from the article]