[Scarlet fever outbreak in a public school in Granada in 2012]

An Pediatr (Barc). 2014 Apr;80(4):249-53. doi: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2013.05.020. Epub 2013 Jul 3.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Introduction: Scarlet fever is a streptococcal disease characterized by a skin rash in children. It can be endemic, epidemic or sporadic. In April 2012, the headmaster of a primary school in Granada reported an outbreak of scarlet fever in the school.

Objective: To describe an outbreak of scarlet fever, analyse its epidemiological and clinical characteristics, and present the preventive measures taken to control it.

Patients and methods: A case-control study was conducted using an ad hoc questionnaire, developed for this purpose. The R program, Epidat 3.1 and Microsoft Excel were used for the statistics analysis.

Results: There were 13 cases and 30 controls. The attack rate was 3.9%. There was a statistically significant difference for the variable "relative affected".

Conclusion: There has been a confirmed outbreak of person-to-person transmitted scarlet fever, and the main risk factor was having a relative with tonsillitis.

Keywords: Brote; Centro educativo; Escarlatina; Scarlet fever Outbreak; School; Streptococcus pyogenes.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Public Sector
  • Risk Factors
  • Scarlet Fever / diagnosis
  • Scarlet Fever / epidemiology*
  • Scarlet Fever / prevention & control
  • Schools
  • Spain / epidemiology