Infantile roseola, also known as sudden rash, is a contagious disease that mainly affects babies and children, from 3 months to 2 years of age, and causes symptoms such as sudden high fever, which can reach 40ºC, decreased appetite and irritability, lasting about 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 itch.
This infection is caused by some types of virus that are of the herpes family, such as human herpes virus types 6 and 7, echovirus 16, adenovirus, among others, which are transmitted through droplets of saliva. Thus, 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 different from the other times.
Although it causes uncomfortable symptoms, roseola usually evolves benignly, without complications, and heals itself. However, the pediatrician can guide a treatment to relieve the child's symptoms, such as antihistamine ointments, to relieve itching, or Paracetamol to control fever, for example.
Main symptoms
Infantile roseola lasts for about 7 days, and has symptoms that appear in the following order:
- Sudden onset of high fever, between 38 to 40ºC, for about 3 to 4 days; Sudden decrease or disappearance of fever; Appearance of reddish or pinkish spots on the skin, especially on the trunk, neck and arms, which last about 2 to 5 days and disappear without flaking or changing the color.
The spots on the skin may be accompanied or not by itching. Other symptoms that may appear in roseola include loss of appetite, cough, runny nose, reddened throat, watery body or diarrhea.
To confirm the diagnosis of infantile roseola, it is very important to go through the pediatrician's evaluation, who will assess the child's symptoms and, if necessary, request tests that can confirm it, as there are several situations that cause fever and reddish spots in the child. Check out what are the main causes of red spot in the baby.
How the transmission happens
Infantile roseola is transmitted by contact with the saliva of another contaminated child, through speech, kisses, coughing, sneezing or toys contaminated with saliva and can be transmitted even before skin patches appear. Symptoms usually appear 5 to 15 days after infection, during which time viruses settle and multiply.
This infection is usually not transmitted to adults because most individuals have defenses for roseola, even if they have never had the disease, but it is possible for an adult to contract roseola if the immune system is weakened. In addition, it is rare for the pregnant woman to become infected with the roseola virus and to be able to develop the disease during pregnancy, however, even if she becomes infected, there are no complications for the fetus.
How the treatment is done
Infantile roseola has a benign evolution, as it usually evolves to a natural cure. The treatment is guided by the pediatrician, and consists of controlling the symptoms of the disease, mainly the use of Paracetamol or Dipyrone to reduce the fever and, thus, avoid febrile seizures.
In addition to medicines, some measures that can help control fever are:
- Dress the child in light clothing; Avoid blankets and blankets, even if it is winter; Bathe the child only with water and slightly warm temperature; Place a cloth soaked in fresh water on the child's forehead for a few minutes and also under the armpits.
When following these guidelines, the fever should go down a little without having to use medications, but you need to check if your child has a fever several times a day. While the child is ill it is advised that he / she does not attend the day care center or be in contact with other children.
In addition, another option to help complement the treatment and reduce fever is ash tea, as it has antipyretic properties. Learn the recipe in Home remedy for children's roseola.
