Detroit area doctors said they are seeing an increase in the number of scarlet fever cases.

According to doctors, the illness is common during the winter months, but many patients still don't recognize or understand the condition.

Parent Danae Gross agreed. She admits she had no idea her son had scarlet fever.

"I thought it was allergies, so I tried to figure out what did he eat unusual," Gross said. "I gave him medicine that didn't kick in the next day."

Gross added, "I thought it's not the throat, I'm seeing a rash, so I couldn't understand there's such a thing as a so-called Strep-Rash (scarlet fever)."

The diagnosis was made by Doctor Dorsey, a pediatrican, who said scarlet fever sounds worse than it really is.

"There's no more or less danger to a youngster's health than just the plain strep throat," Dorsey explained.

Gross' son, 8-year-old Ryan, first noticed his condition two days ago. Ryan said he didn't feel sick but woke up covered with a red, itchy rash.

"I was itchy and I was like itching back here," he said, pointing to the back of his head. "And I was itchy on my side."

Ryan Gross didn't have a cough or fever, which is usually present with scarlet fever. Still, Dorsey said the illness is common, especially among children.

"It comes in waves," said Dorsey, who cautioned that if left untreated, scarlet fever can develop into a more serious illness.