| Roseola | 757.000000000000 | Roseola | Roseola | R | English | Infectious Diseases | Baby (1-12 months);Toddler (13-24 months);Preschooler (2-4 years) | Skin | Immune system | Conditions and diseases | Caregivers
Adult (19+) | Fever;Rash | | 2014-11-04T05:00:00Z | | Sheila Jacobson, MBBCh, FRCPC | | | | 8.00000000000000 | 60.0000000000000 | 839.000000000000 | | Health (A-Z) - Conditions | Health A-Z | <p>Find out how to recognize and treat the signs and symptoms of a roseola infection. </p> | <figure><span class="asset-image-title">Close-up of a roseola rash</span><img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/Roseola_MEDIMG_PHO_EN.jpg" alt="Close-up of skin with a roseola rash" /> </figure>
<h2>What is roseola?<br></h2><p>Roseola is a very common viral infection that causes a fever, followed by a rash. The infection is caused by the human herpes virus 6 (or less often, human herpes virus 7).</p> | <h2>Who is most at risk of a roseola infection?</h2>
<p>Roseola usually affects children from six months to three years of age. Although it is not common, roseola can sometimes occur before six months of age.</p>
<p>Newborn babies are not at high risk for roseola because of the antibodies they receive from their mothers. These antibodies protect them against infections, but this immunity fades as they get older.</p>
<p>By school age, most children will have had a roseola infection. The antibodies that they produce to fight this infection will protect them from roseola in the future.<br></p> | <h2>Key points </h2>
<ul>
<li>Roseola is a viral infection that usually affects children age nine to 21 months.</li>
<li>Symptoms include high fever followed by a rash.</li>
<li>Roseola is spread through person to person contact with saliva or nasal secretions.</li>
<li>Treatment is with over the counter medications to bring down the fever. There is no specific treatment for roseola.</li>
<li>The best way to prevent roseola is through frequent handwashing. Avoid contact with people who have the infection.</li>
</ul> | | <h2>Signs and symptoms of roseola</h2>
<figure>
<span class="asset-image-title">Roseola rash on torso</span>
<img alt="Torso of child with roseola rash" src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/Roseola_torso_MEDIMG_PHO_EN.jpg" />
<figcaption class="asset-image-caption">Roseola means "rose rash". The roseola rash looks like lots of small pink spots. It disappears after about four days.</figcaption> </figure>
<p>There are two main symptoms of roseola.</p><ul><li>The first symptom is a sudden, high fever, sometimes higher than 40°C (104°F). The fever may last about three to five days. The fever is less likely to occur in babies under six months than in older babies.</li><li>When the fever passes, a rash often appears. This rash has many small pink spots, which are usually flat but may be slightly raised. The rash usually starts on the chest, abdomen and back and may later spread to the face and limbs. It lasts about four days but does not itch.</li></ul><p>The symptoms of roseola are usually mild; it is seldom a severe illness. Complications are unusual. If they do occur, they are usually limited to
<a href="/Article?contentid=1&language=English">febrile seizures</a>.</p><p>Other symptoms of roseola include:</p><ul><li>irritability</li><li>
<a href="/Article?contentid=748&language=English">sore throat</a></li><li>runny nose</li><li>
<a href="/Article?contentid=774&language=English">cough</a></li><li>fatigue</li><li>mild
<a href="/Article?contentid=7&language=English">diarrhea</a></li><li>decreased appetite</li><li>swollen eyelids</li><li>
<a href="/Article?contentid=777&language=English">swelling of the lymph nodes</a> in the neck</li><li>swelling of the fontanelle (in infants).</li></ul><p>Not every child with roseola will develop these symptoms. If they occur at all, it is usually before the rash appears.</p><p>Roseola can cause serious symptoms in people with weakened immune systems due to an underlying medical condition.</p> | | <h2>How roseola spreads</h2>
<p>Roseola spreads from person to person through contact with an infected person's saliva, for example by sharing a cup, or nasal secretions, for example if a person sneezes.</p>
<p>A person can spread the virus even if they do not show any symptoms. Infection with roseola can occur at any time of the year.</p> | <h2>How roseola is diagnosed</h2>
<p>Roseola is easy to diagnose if it involves a fever followed by rash. However, not all cases of roseola look the same. For example, sometimes there is no rash after the initial fever. In addition, many other conditions can look similar to roseola.</p>
<p>If there is no rash after a fever, your doctor may need to do blood, urine and sometimes other tests to diagnose or rule out roseola. For more information about your child's illness, please speak to your child's doctor.</p> | <h2>How to treat roseola </h2>
<p>The best way to treat roseola is to manage the symptoms until the infection passes. Because roseola is caused by a virus, rather than bacteria, antibiotics are not effective.</p>
<h3>Medications</h3>
<p>To reduce fever, give your child over-the-counter medications such as <a href="/Article?contentid=62&language=English">acetaminophen</a> or <a href="/Article?contentid=153&language=English">ibuprofen</a>.</p>
<p>Do not give your child <a href="/Article?contentid=77&language=English">acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)</a> because it is known to cause Reye's syndrome in children.</p>
<h3>Clothing</h3>
<p>Keep your child lightly dressed. Overdressing or bundling your child may result in a higher fever. If your child is having chills or shivers, give them a light blanket. Keep the room temperature at a level that is comfortable for you when lightly dressed.</p>
<h3>Extra fluids</h3>
<p>Encourage your child to drink extra fluids. It does not matter whether the drinks are warm or cool. As long as your child is drinking well, do not worry if their appetite decreases for a few days.</p> | | | <h2>How to prevent roseola</h2>
<p>There is no vaccine to prevent roseola and it is difficult to avoid exposure when it can be spread even when people have no symptoms.</p>
<p>The best way to prevent the spread of germs is to <a href="/Article?contentid=1981&language=English">wash hands</a> frequently. If your child already has roseola, keep them at home until their fever is gone.</p> | <h2>When to see a doctor</h2>
<p>See a doctor if:</p>
<ul>
<li>your child seems very unwell, lethargic or irritable</li>
<li>your child's fever is higher than 39.4°C (103°F)</li>
<li>your child's fever lasts more than five days</li>
<li>the rash does not improve after a few days</li>
<li>the spots of the rash look purple or blood-coloured</li>
<li>your child already has a weakened immune system when roseola first occurs.</li>
</ul>
<p>Go to your nearest emergency department right away if your child has a febrile seizure.</p> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | roseola | | | | | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/Roseola_torso_MEDIMG_PHO_EN.jpg | Roseola | | False | | | | | |
