What is the first-line antibiotic for scarlet fever?

What is the first-line antibiotic for scarlet fever?

• A. Ciprofloxacin
• B. Azithromycin
• C. Penicillin is first-line therapy
• D. Erythromycin

Answer: (C)

Scarlet fever is caused by group A Streptococcus, so the treatment that best targets this organism with a long track record of safety and effectiveness is penicillin. Penicillin V taken orally for about 10 days (or amoxicillin in children) reliably clears the infection, reduces symptom duration, and helps prevent complications like rheumatic fever. Because of its narrow spectrum, penicillin minimizes disruption to normal flora and keeps resistance issues low. If someone has a penicillin allergy, a macrolide such as erythromycin or azithromycin is used instead, though resistance patterns can limit their usefulness and they’re not preferred as first-line. Ciprofloxacin isn’t appropriate for scarlet fever, as it’s not the recommended therapy for GAS infections.

Scarlet fever is caused by group A Streptococcus, so the treatment that best targets this organism with a long track record of safety and effectiveness is penicillin. Penicillin V taken orally for about 10 days (or amoxicillin in children) reliably clears the infection, reduces symptom duration, and helps prevent complications like rheumatic fever. Because of its narrow spectrum, penicillin minimizes disruption to normal flora and keeps resistance issues low. If someone has a penicillin allergy, a macrolide such as erythromycin or azithromycin is used instead, though resistance patterns can limit their usefulness and they’re not preferred as first-line. Ciprofloxacin isn’t appropriate for scarlet fever, as it’s not the recommended therapy for GAS infections.