What is roseola fever

There is no known way to prevent the spread of roseola and there is no vaccine. Thorough hand hygiene is the best way to help reduce the spread of the virus. If your child is unwell with a fever and a skin rash small bright red spots or purple spots or unexplained bruises that does not turn to skin-colour blanch when you press on it, this may be a sign of meningococcal infection see our fact sheet Meningococcal infection. Children with roseola are only contagious before their symptoms appear, so once you realise they have roseola they can no longer spread the virus to other children.

If your child is feeling well enough, because her symptoms are very mild, it will be OK to send her to child care. If she has a fever and is feeling unwell, it is better to keep her home so she can rest and recover.

Roseola rarely affects adults, so doctors think that a bout of roseola in childhood may provide lasting immunity to the virus. By the age of two years, 95 per cent of people have been infected with roseola. A repeat infection is possible, but is very unusual. The rashes caused by roseola will not cause any discomfort to your child, and will get better on their own.

We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers. To donate, visit www. This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. These seizures are brief and not dangerous. However, you should have your child examined by a doctor if one happens. Acute encephalitis , hepatitis , myocarditis , haemophagocytic syndrome and infectious mononucleosis-like illness occur only very rarely. Reactivation of HHV-6 in immune suppressed patients or in association with drug hypersensitivity syndrome results in fever, rash, pneumonia, hepatitis, bone marrow suppression and encephalitis.

See smartphone apps to check your skin. DermNet NZ does not provide an online consultation service. If you have any concerns with your skin or its treatment, see a dermatologist for advice. Roseola — codes and concepts open. Roseola infantum, Exanthem subitum, Sixth disease, Pseudorubella, Three day fever. The rash lasts 1 to 3 days.

By the time the rash appears, the child feels fine. Non-prescription OTC drugs rarely cause any rashes. Most rashes that occur while taking an OTC drug are viral rashes. Fever medicines acetaminophen and ibuprofen cause the most confusion. Reason: Most viral rashes start with a fever. Hence, the child is taking a fever med when the rash starts. But, the fever med had nothing to do with the rash. There's no need to wait until the rash disappears.

Page last reviewed: 07 January Next review due: 07 January Check if your child has roseola If your child has roseola, at first they may have: a sudden high temperature cold-like symptoms such as a sore throat, runny nose and a cough loss of appetite swollen eyelids and swollen glands in their neck These symptoms last 3 to 5 days, before a rash appears.