The rash is the most striking sign of scarlet fever
Aside from the rash, there are usually other symptoms that help to confirm a diagnosis of scarlet fever, including a reddened sore throat, a fever above 101°F (38.3°C), and swollen glands in the neck.
When scarlet fever happens because of a throat infection, the fever usually stops within 3 to 5 days, and the sore throat passes soon afterward.
The infection itself is usually cured with a 10-day course of antibiotics, but it may take a few weeks for tonsils and swollen glands to return to normal.
In rare cases, scarlet fever may develop from a streptococcal skin infection like impetigo.