Infectious Diseases: Roseola

Symptoms

Starts out with a fever, which disappears in a few days and is replaced with a rash on the face and body. The rash has small red spots and lasts for one or two days. Most children are not that sick during the fever stage, although some children have a very high fever which causes febrile seizures (convulsions).

Cause

Caused by a virus. The infection is rare in children younger than four months or older than four years; it’s common in children aged six to 24 months.

Treatment

Talk to your doctor if your child gets a persistent fever or acts unwell.

Transmission/Prevention

It is not yet known how roseola spreads from person to person, but we do know it’s not that infectious. Tell your child’s daycare or school staff if he is diagnosed with the infection.