Roseola rash is a virus infection affecting the infants and young children. It is harmless and targets 6 months to 2 year old children. It begins as high fever which may lasts for 3-5 days. The rash appears on the skin after the fever subsides. Roseola is not contagious and resolves on its own within few weeks.
Causes :
Virus that causes herpes (Human herpes virus HHV-6) is the main reason for roseola rash. Sometimes HHV-7 also causes roseola.
How far it is contagious?
Roseola virus is not highly contagious and during incubation period, there is chance of getting the virus from infected children. The transfer of virus takes place through saliva and mostly from the initial onset of symptoms till 10 days. There is no particular season for getting this infection and it can infect children spreading illness all through the year.
Symptoms :
Symptoms vary from one child to another. Some children will not have any clear symptoms except mild fever but some others will have fever, runny nose, sore throat and rash. It starts as sudden high fever with temperature 102-105 F with sore throat or runny nose. Some children will also develop inflammation on the lymph nodes of neck. The fever may last anywhere from 3-5 days.
The rash begins to appear after the fever has reduced. It would be seen as small dark pink patches on the back, chest region and on the abdomen. For some children it is observed on the arms, legs, face and neck. This rash will not cause any itching sensation unlike other skin rash. Some of the other symptoms of roseola rash are loss of appetite, diarrhea, irritability and swollen eyelids. There is every chance of getting convulsion if the fever is very high. Hence you should give medication for reducing fever to avoid the possibility of seizure.