Scarlet What?

Leave it to me and my internet searches to get a little freaked out.

Ben, as noted below, has been under the weather for a few days. He's had a high fever and a sore throat. Since we were around his friends who were dealing with a hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak (sounds great, doesn't it?) I spent most of the weekend looking in Ben's mouth, waiting for the tell tale signs to appear. They never did.

But, when he started to develop a rash on his body and a furry white coat on his tongue (was that an overshare?), I turned to the trusty web and the less than helpful nurse advice line. My scientific approach led me to the conclusion that he had Scarlet Fever. What?!? That still exists? I thought that was something that went by the wayside with Little Women and Little House on the Prairie.

When the nurse advice line confirmed this diagnosis, a sheepish call to the pediatrician (on Mother's Day! argh! bad patient!) got us an appointment first thing this morning, where both boys were swabbed for strep throat. Ben passed the test with flying colors - no doubt there. Turns out Scarlet Fever is just strep throat with a rash. Who knew? Why didn't my search results say that clearly? Anyway, two huge bottles of amoxicillin later, and Ben is on the road to recovery. Ry has thus far avoided it. I'm hoping the girls that kissed Ben at school the day before he got sick were as lucky.