Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Scarlet Fever at the Present Stage

The study included 62 children who were hospitalized in the Republican Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital of Bishkek with a diagnosis of scarlet fever from 2024 to February 2025. Among the examined children, children aged 4–6 years (52,0%) most often suffered from scarlet fever, with a slight predominance of boys (53,8%). Seasonal analysis revealed peaks in November, May, and December, indicating a spring-autumn seasonality. Most patients were admitted 2–4 days after the onset of the disease, indicating a tendency for late treatment. The clinical picture varied in severity, with half of the children (48,3%) diagnosed with a severe form. The severity of scarlet fever affected the clinical manifestations. Children with a severe form were more likely to have severe fever, repeated vomiting, intense itching, and a longer course of the disease. In children with a moderate form of the disease, follicular tonsillitis was mainly recorded, while in children with severe scarlet fever - lacunar and necrotic. Significant differences between severe and moderate cases were confirmed statistically (t = -4,23; p < 0,001). Complications were recorded in 23,3% of cases with a severe form and were absent in moderate cases. The odds ratio (OR) and risk ratio (RR) tended to infinity, NNT was 4,286. The relationship between severity and complications is assessed as average (φ and Cramer's V = 0,368). Laboratory parameters included leukocytosis with neutrophilia (82,6%) and, less often, leukopenia (17,4%). Procalcitonin levels above 0,05 were observed in a third of children with a severe form. Antibacterial therapy (penicillin and Cephalosporins) was prescribed to all patients, glucocorticosteroids were used mainly in severe cases (46,2%), infusion therapy — in 71,1% of patients. All children were discharged with improvement; the average duration of hospitalization was 10±3,3 days.