A harmless childhood virus
Roseola is a virus that mainly affects children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, causing a rash and high fever. These symptoms are usually more alarming to parents than they are threatening to a young child’s health. It’s unclear how the virus is transmitted, but once children have had it, they won’t get it again.
Note the symptoms
Roseola has a seven- to 17-day incubation period. Symptoms may include:
Fever and irritability which occur suddenly. The fever may be as high as 105° F, and last three to five days. Even with this high fever, a child may remain alert and active.
A mild sore throat
Slight swelling of the lymph glands in the neck and behind the ears
On the fourth or fifth day, temperatures often drop suddenly to normal or below.
As the temperature falls, a mild rash usually appears on the torso and may extend to the neck, arms or thighs. These pink, well-defined patches will turn white when touched with light pressure and may be slightly bumpy. The rash may last from a few hours to a few days and may be so mild that it goes unnoticed.
The sudden high fever of roseola may cause a seizure. Although frightening, febrile seizures seldom cause problems. However, it is essential to treat the fever promptly.
There is no medication for treating roseola, but you can make your child more comfortable by:
Attempting to relieve a high fever with sponge baths (swab the child’s neck and upper body with lukewarm water)
Keeping a fever down with ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol); use as directed. NEVER give children/teenagers aspirin. It can cause Reye’s syndrome, a rare but often fatal condition.
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