Roseola (Roseola Infantum or Sixth disease) - Medtick
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Roseola (Roseola Infantum or Sixth disease)

What is it?

A mild and common viral illness that occurs children between 3 months and 3 years of age.

  • It is contagious via coughing or sneezing, sharing utensils and kissing or faecal – oral contact.
  • It is caused by a virus similar to cold sores and is not a sexually transmitted disease.

Contagious

It is spread by the fluids that are coughed or sneezed into the air. Children with roseola can only spread the infection before the fever and/or rash occur. Once your child has symptoms, they are no longer contagious.
The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation

Medication

Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can be used under medical supervision as these medication can also cause skin type reactions, Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs is not recommended in asthma or asthma type symptoms. Check with your Medical doctor/Pharmacist when one can have any type of fever reducing medication to make sure it suitable for you. Do not give Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs in chicken pox (without medical advice) and dengue.

Cause

  • Herpes virus: HHV-6 or HHV-7

Symptoms

  • High temperature greater than 38°C, 100°F or over greater than 72 hours, chills and sweats?

Followed by:

  • A new rash that has appeared or existing rash getting worst (rash is pink and non-itchy and may have small flat spots or raised bumps. These spots may have a lighter “halo” around them and will turn white if you press on them. It may last for days or hours)?
  • Lymph nodes in his neck and at the base of his skull may be enlarged?
  • Irritable?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Diarrhoea?
  • Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than one day?
  • Swollen or sticky eye or sensitive to light?
  • Infants sometimes have a bulging fontanelle (the “soft spot” on babies head)?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

This condition can lead to:

Treatment

  • Hydration
  • Pain relief medication to bring fever down

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Roseola (Roseola Infantum or Sixth disease) in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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