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Roseola is a common illness caused by a virus. Only infants and young children get roseola, usually between 6 months and 2 years of age. About 3 of every 10 children get roseola. When they do, the disease is usually mild. Many children get roseola and recover without feeling sick. Roseola normally appears in the spring and fall seasons.
With roseola, the child gets a fever and the temperature rises suddenly, sometimes
as high as 40°C (104° F)(Armpit or axillary measure). In a few cases,
it may rise above 40°C (104° F) and the child may have seizures or convulsions.
Although these can cause concern, they very rarely cause any permanent damage.
Within three to five days, your child’s the temperature should drop back
to normal.
After 24 hours, the roseola rash develops with small pink or red dots appearing
on the neck, chest and body. The rash may be very faint or very obvious. In
either case, the rash usually lasts about a day. One of the key features of
roseola is that the rash appears after the fever has ended. In most
other childhood illnesses, the fever and the rash happen at the same time.
Although affected infants and toddlers may go back and forth between feeling comfortable and acting upset, they usually eat and drink normally or regularly. Unlike other infections, there are no other symptoms, such as diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, or a runny nose.
Roseola is spread through saliva and tiny droplets of fluid from the nose and throat of infected people when they talk, laugh, cough, or sneeze. It is not known how long children with roseola may be contagious to others.
You cannot be sure your baby has roseola until the fever goes away and the rash appears. If your child seems to become sicker, with a fever above 41°C (106°F), a stiff neck, and feels extremely sleepy, listless or irritable, call your doctor right away. These symptoms may indicate a more serious illness.
You should always call your doctor if you feel concerned about your child's illness. If your child has a convulsion, call your doctor immediately.
If you are alone when this happens, turn the baby on his or her side to ensure the child can breathe properly, before making the phone call. Do not leave your child unattended. If you do not have a cell or a portable phone, make sure the child is nearby while you make the call. These convulsions can be very scary, but they should not last more than a few minutes.
If this is the first time your baby has a convulsion, and you cannot reach your doctor, take your baby to the nearest hospital emergency room. The doctor will want to make sure that your child does not have a more serious illness.
There is no specific treatment for roseola. Home treatment may include:
Antibiotics cannot cure the disease. If your doctor does prescribe them, it means that the fever might be caused by a bacterial illness.
Your child can return to social activities, such as going to daycare or visiting the playground, as soon as the fever and the rash are gone. If your child is recovering from roseola and is returning to daycare, tell the caregivers about the recent illness.
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