Roseola
Roseola is a viral infection that commonly affects infants and young children. It involves a pinkish-red skin rash and high fever. Roseola is common in children ages 3 months to 4 years, and most common in those ages 6 months to 1 year. It is caused by a virus called human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), although similar syndromes are possible with other viruses. The time between becoming infected and the beginning of symptoms (incubation period) is 5 to 15 days. The first symptoms include:
Eye redness
Irritability
Runny nose
Sore throat
High fever, that comes on quickly and may be as high as 105°F (40.5°C) and can last 3 to 7 days
About 2 to 4 days after becoming sick, the child’s fever lowers and a rash appears. This rash most often:
Starts on the middle of the body and spreads to the arms, legs, neck, and face
Is pink or rose-colored
Has small sores that are slightly raised The rash lasts from a few hours to 2 to 3 days. It usually does not itch.
There is no specific treatment for roseola. The disease most often gets better on its own without complications.“A child with fever and rash should be excluded from child care until seen by a health care provider. After the fever breaks, a child may return to care while the rash is still present, provided that the child feels well and is able to participate fully in all activities.”
