Scarlet fever infections increased rapidly in 2023

Infections with scarlet fever have risen sharply in Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt in the past year. According to an analysis by DAK-Gesundheit, around six times more children with scarlet fever were treated in doctors' surgeries in Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia in 2023 than in the previous year, and three times as many in Saxony. This is the result of a recent special analysis as part of the DAK Children and Youth Report.

In Saxony, around 18,200 children aged between one and 14 were affected - the highest level in the past five years. In Saxony-Anhalt, there were around 11,500 children and in Thuringia around 8,700 children. In all three states, this is the highest level in the past five years.

Medical experts see catch-up effects after the coronavirus pandemic as the cause. According to the DAK, the number of scarlet fever diagnoses by doctors fell sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic - with the lowest level in 2021. However, scarlet fever infections increased noticeably from 2022 onwards.

"In addition to the difficult social consequences, the pandemic-related "infection avoidance" also had negative infectiological consequences. The supply of medicines is of central importance: We need a stable supply of oral penicillin," said the President of the Professional Association of Paediatricians and Adolescent Doctors, Michael Hubmann.

The respective heads of the DAK regional offices emphasized that developments must be kept in mind. It is important to educate parents about infectious diseases such as scarlet fever - and to point out that the relevant hygiene rules must be observed.

Scarlet fever is a common bacterial infectious disease in children that is caused by streptococci. The highly contagious disease usually occurs more frequently in communal facilities such as nurseries or schools.

According to its own information, DAK-Gesundheit is the third largest health insurance company in Germany with 5.5 million insured persons, 160,000 of whom are in Saxony, 130,000 in Thuringia and around 114,000 in Saxony-Anhalt.