The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a suspected case of scarlet fever complicated with toxic shock syndrome involving an 8-year-old boy.
The boy came down with a fever a sore throat on February 14, and developed a rash on his neck two days later. He visited a doctor on February 15, 17 and 18 and was referred to Kwung Wah Hospital’s Accident & Emergency Department on his last visit. He was admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit the same day with pneumonia and shock.
Tests showed he had a bacterial infection and influenza B.
He is in critical condition.
The boy, with a history of good health, did not travel recently. He lives with his parents, and his mother recovered from a fever and runny nose on February 10.
Click
here for information on scarlet fever.