Scarlet fever cases on the rise

Symptoms can include a sore throat, red rash and fever

There has been a higher than average increase in the number of people in Scotland suffering from Scarlet fever.

Health Protection Scotland said there were 206 cases in the first three months of 2008, compared with an annual average of just 94 for previous years.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Forth Valley and Ayrshire and Arran saw the biggest increase in cases of the condition.

Scarlet fever is caused by a bacterial infection, treated by antibiotics, that causes a sore throat and a red rash.

Other symptoms include a headache, fever, vomiting and swollen neck glands

It is most common among children between the ages of six and 12.

Annual increase

Dr Henry Prempeh, consultant in public health for NHS Forth Valley, said the numbers of those catching the condition tended to rise in winter months.

He said: "There has been a significant increase in the number of cases reported to us of Scarlet Fever which is a notifiable disease.

"The cold conditions where people group together, as well as the start of the winter term when students return to school are conditions which allow the organism to spread readily."

The doctor added that the condition was readily treatable and did not cause any significant complications in the vast majority of individuals who contracted it.

Historically in Scotland, scarlet fever has a cyclical nature, which peaks every three to four years.

Figures show that from 2004-2007 there was a steady annual increase in the number of cases with 202, 214, 258 and 310 notifications respectively.

Reports by NHS boards across Scotland show most cases are diagnosed in Greater Glasgow, Lothian, Fife and Lanarkshire.