Bexhill mum's warning after daughter catches scarlet fever

Tracey Folwell initially thought seven-year-old Annabelle had caught a cold when she kept her off school with a temperature on March 10.

Tracey gave her ibuprofen and, feeling better, Annabelle went back to school the following day.

Tracey said: “About 12.30pm, I had a call from King Offa saying Annabelle had a rash and to make doctor’s appointment.

“When I picked her up I was told she had a temperature of 40, but they gave her lots of fluids, and sat her in a cool room. The receptionist then said she thinks Annabelle has scarlet fever.”

Tracey took Annabelle to the doctor, who confirmed her daughter had contracted scarlet fever.

In a bid to alert other parents to the highly-contagious condition, Tracey spoke out on social media, urging parents to look out for symptoms over the weekend.

Tracey said she would have handled the situation differently, had she recognised the symptoms.

She said: “Annabelle was scratching her head in the morning, so I checked for nits. This could have been the rash starting.

“Also the temperature she had could have been a sign, but as it went down with medicine, that seemed OK. Also when we got to school, her cheeks were flushed, but then this happens going to school in general when it’s cold.”

Tracey kept Annabelle off school all last week, as her temperature continued to fluctuate and her appetite had been affected.

Tracey said: “When I saw the doctor again, they said it will take time to recover as it’s still a serious illness. “

She added: “I feel that people must be aware that their child is still contagious until 24 hours after taking the antibiotics.

“This may not affect the older generation of Bexhill, but knowing from myself, and other parents, you may get a sore throat that is very much like tonsillitis. I hope in speaking out it helped other parents’ awareness.”

King Offa School has been deep-cleaned in a bid to stop the infection spreading.

Find out more about scarlet fever at www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Scarlet-fever

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