Roseola in Children

Roseola is an illness caused by a strain of the human herpes virus. It is most common in children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. However, it can happen at any age. Roseola is usually a mild illness. It is spread from person to person when an infected person talks, laughs, sneezes, or coughs. Symptoms appear 5 to 15 days after exposure.

The first symptom of roseola is a high fever of 103 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit or 39.4 to 40.6 degrees Celsius. The fever lasts 2 to 4 days. Children are usually only mildly sick, but may also have symptoms such as:

• less appetite
• a slight cough
• a runny nose
• puffy eyelids
• mild diarrhea
• irritability, and
• tiredness

When the fever returns to normal, a rash usually appears on the middle of the body and may spread to the neck, arms, and face. The rash causes tiny, pink, flat or slightly raised spots and mild itchiness. The rash seldom lasts for more than 2 days. Since roseola is contagious until the fever and rash are gone, keeping your child out of day care or school until then will help prevent spreading the illness to others.

Most roseola cases can be treated at home and do not require a trip to the healthcare provider. Home treatment includes rest and giving the child plenty of clear fluids. Giving acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help to control fever. Check with your healthcare provider before you give medicine that contains aspirin or salicylates to a child or teen because of the risk for a serious illness called Reye's syndrome. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines can cause stomach bleeding and other problems. Take the medicine only as directed.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File infd4529.htm Release 13/2010