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Roseola - Symptom

Alternative Names

Exanthem subitum; Sixth disease

Symptoms:

The time between becoming infected and the beginning of symptoms (incubation period) is 5 to 15 days.

The first symptoms include:

Eye redness
Irritability
Runny nose
Sore throat
High fever, that comes on quickly and may be as high as 105° Fahrenheit and can last 3 to 7 days

About 2-4 days after becoming sick, the child's fever lowers and a rash appears. This rash usually:

Starts on the middle of the body and spreads to the arms, legs, neck, and face.
Pink or rose-colored,
Has small sores that are slightly raised

The rash lasts from a few hours to 2 - 3 days. It usually does not itch.

Signs and tests:

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about the child's medical history. The child may have swollen lymph nodes in the neck or back of the scalp.

Roseola

Temperature measurement

Reviewed last on: 8/2/2011
Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Leach CT. Roseola (human herpesviruses 6 and 7). In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 253.

Caserta MT. Roseola. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 248.

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