Infant roseola, also known as a sudden rash, is a contagious disease that mainly affects infants and children ages 3 months to 2 years, and causes symptoms such as sudden high fever of up to 40oC, decreased appetite and irritability, lasting approximately 3 to 4 days, followed by small pink spots on the child’s skin., especially on the trunk, neck and arms, which may or may not sting.
This infection is caused by certain types of viruses belonging to the herpes family, such as herpes human herpes viruses type 6 and 7, echovirus 16, adenovirus, among others, which are transmitted by droplets of saliva, so although infection with the same virus is not caught more than once, it is possible to acquire roseola more than once , if the child is infected with a virus other than that of other eras.
- Although it causes uncomfortable symptoms.
- Roseola usually evolves benignly.
- Without complications.
- And heals itself; however.
- Your pediatrician may guide treatment to relieve your child’s symptoms.
- Such as antihistamine ointments.
- To relieve itching.
- Or acetaminophen to control fever.
- For example.
Infant roseola lasts approximately 7 days and has symptoms that appear in the following order:
Skin spots may or may not be accompanied by itching.Other symptoms that may appear in roseola include loss of appetite, cough, nasal discharge, red throat, watery body or diarrhea.
To confirm the diagnosis of infant roseola, it is very important to undergo the evaluation of the pediatrician, who will assess the child’s symptoms and, if necessary, will ask for tests that can confirm the disease, since there are several situations that cause fever and spots reddish spots on the child’s body. Learn about the other causes of red spots on baby’s skin.
Infant roseola is transmitted through contact with the saliva of another infected child, through speech, kisses, cough, sneezing or saliva-contaminated toys and can be transmitted even before plaques appear. Symptoms usually appear 5 to 15 days after infection, during which time the viruses settle and multiply.
This infection is usually not transmitted to adults because most people have defenses against roseola, even if they have never had the disease, but an adult may get roseola if the immune system is weakened.Pregnant women can become infected with roseola virus and develop the disease during pregnancy, however, even if infected, there are no complications for the fetus.
Infant roseola has a benign evolution, as it usually evolves towards natural healing, treatment is guided by the pediatrician and consists in controlling the symptoms of the disease, and the use of acetaminophen or dipirone may be indicated to reduce fever and thus avoid febrile seizures.
In addition to medications, measures that can help control fever include:
When you follow these guidelines, your fever should go down a little without medication, but you should check if your child has a fever several times a day.While the child is sick, it is advisable not to go to day care or to be in contact with other children.
In addition, another option to supplement treatment and reduce fever is ash tea, as it has antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and healing properties, helping to relieve rosaella symptoms, however, it is important that ash tea is indicated by the pediatrician.