I had never heard of this disease before, and wanted to share what I learned this past week...because it is a disease that (typically) is not serious, but during the week-long infection...it is extremely frightening to watch your little one go through these awful symptoms!
Roseola is a viral infection that is so common, it affects MOST children before school age, especially in toddlers under age of 2 years.
Plus, once you realize what your child has Roseola (due to the "tell-tale sign" of a pink patchy-rash after a high fever), the illness is almost over.
So, to save some parents time and agony for future, here is my run-down of Roseola.
According to the Mayo Clinic:
Roseola is characterized by a sudden high fever (103 degrees, or even higher!), that can last for many days (my son's fever lasted five days). Then the tell-tale sign is a rash over the belly, back, neck and face AFTER the fever is over. The rash is not painful and not itchy.
I also learned that my husband and I have different ideas of what a "rash" is. I was shocked to see a rash over my son's body (pink dots all over), and my hubby said "that's no rash!". His idea of a "rash" is a large area of a continuous red patch, not a few pink dots.
So, just to be clear: a "rash" is defined as any change in the skin; an eruption on the body typically with little or no elevation above the surface.
A frightening complication of Roseola, due to the spike in fever, is febrile seizures. I wrote about our experience with my son's first (and hopefully only!) seizure, convulsing and loss of consciousness here: (https://www.empowher.com/ask/maternity-/-parenting/my-toddler-had-a-febr...).
I did not realize that seizures were also common and nothing to worry about...although it is scary to go through (and, at the time, you're not sure what exactly is happening).
I was told by my pediatrician to call if a fever lasts more than 24 hours. So, I was nervous when my son's fever was lasting for five days! I didn't know how much fever-reducing medicine to give him, as the package says to not give more than 5 doses in 24 hour period. Great, but what if the fever lasts 120 hours on-and-off?! Has this happened to you?
Lastly, after a week of rocking, holding and carrying my once-semi-independent son continuously, sleeping on the floor in his room, rocking him to sleep, trying to be comforting when he is crying and irritable (and, frankly, irritating to be around...sorry to say!!)...he gets a rash all over his body, and I find it ironic that this is a good sign?! Oh well...the body works in mysterious ways, I guess.
He is pretty darn cute, smiling and laughing now that he's feeling better, although he's blotchy and speckled with a rash. Good thing he still thinks he's cute (he likes to kiss the mirror at the cute baby looking at him!).
I am curious, though--why is Roseola so common, and extremely contagious, and is not mentioned to first-time parents?! I really am a normal, laid-back person until I visit the E.R. with my child, and then I turn into hyper-vigilant, over-protective, emotional-yet-stable (and un-stable) mother!
One additional note about fever-reducing medicines. I received conflicting information, and am curious what everyone else's pediatricians have told them. The E.R. doctors/nurses told us to "stay on top of his fever" by giving him a regime of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. I realized, in practice, this means giving him medicine round the clock...and then how do you know when the fever is gone or is the medicine still just working?! Our pediatrician said you *don't* want to "stay on top of the fever", and to give as little medicine as it takes to control the fever (which is more of our philosophy, anyways). He said that fever-reducing medicine is to make the child comfortable, not to prevent a febrile seizure from occurring again. Interesting...any thoughts?
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My childrens Dr says to alternate the meds three hrs apart but I believe a small fever is healthy for children my dr even told me that. So what I do for the fever Is I give the first does and as long as they are comfortable or cool I let them be but if I touch their body and it is burning hot, their cheeks turn red or they are fussying I give them the does of the opposites medicine. If they dont get hot or fussy for a few hours then I know that they are getting better and its not the medicnes covering the symptoms. You do not want to allow your childs fever to get too high that is what causes the seizures so if it has spiked id say over 101 deffinately give them medicine I try to keep mine under 101 just to keep from it getting into that dangerous area but to let their body have the fever because it is supposed to help build the immune system.
August 3, 2012 - 7:30pmThis Comment
I too, cannot understand why a pediatrician isn't capable of telling a parent that "it could be" Roseola, or say " If a rash follows after the fever, then it could be Roseola." Especially after doing EVERYTHING a parent can do. We took our 15 month old daughter to the Pediatricians after 2 days of a fever running anywhere between 99-101 degrees. Even after giving her Children's Tylenol and alternating with Ibuprofen as recommended, her fever would not go down.They checked her ears, nose, mouth, throat (swabs), then listened to her lungs and...nothing- All tests were negative. They couldn't find anything. The Pediatrician asked that we bring our baby back IF her temperature reaches 102. On day 3, she was so weak and lethargic, that my husband and I were becoming more concerned by the hour. We pushed her to drink fluids to stay hydrated and all she wanted to do was sleep. Day 4, her temperature reached 102, it was the weekend, and we knew that we would need to go WAIT HOURS at the ER. We gave her a luke warm bath, more medicine and her temperature did go back down to 100. Then later that day her temperature reached "HIGH" the thermometer wouldn't read over 106 degrees. We rushed her to the ER. They checked EVERYTHING, Xray, urine, blood, ears, nose, throat- After being at the hospital for 6 hours, the tests ALL came back NEGATIVE, her lungs looked fine too. As a parent, to watch hopital staffs handle a baby to help her, while she screams at the top of her lungs is so hard and sad. We went home and continued to give her medicine and STILL, her fever went up. Day 5, my husband and I didn't know what else to do. We knew her body was fighting something- we just didn't know what... My mother-in -law told me about Roseola, and thought it could be it, and said we wouldn't be able to know until it's DONE, after the rash comes, IF it is Roseola. I called the Pediatricians early Monday morning to tell them about our ER visit and to let them know she ran a fever of 100-101 after 6 days and wanted to see the Dr. again but "they had no opening". I would have to wait for her temperature to be 102 to do anything or to rush her to the ER. However, around noon, while giving my baby a bath, I noticed a rash (little pink-ish dots) on her chest and neck and I KNEW my mother in law had to be right! I Googled Roseola and was HAPPY to see the rash!! Our daughter's fever literally went away 1 hour after her rash appeared. I called the Dr. to let them know that it must have been Roseola because her fever is gone AND a rash is on her chest and neck. The nurse responded (with an attitude) "Roseola is just a rash that shows up after a high fever..just give her Benadryl, and it will go away." I wanted to scream at her, I wanted to tell her that she didn't know what she was talking about and that Dr. should have mentioned it to us knowing this is the common age children have Roseola. I'm not a Dr. --however, if my patient was 15 months old, healthy, then had a high fever, and my staff and I couldn't figure out why... I would tell the parents about Roseola and give then a little piece of mind. This was the most exhausting 6 days, and I'm happy to say our little girl is now smiling and playing again.
June 4, 2012 - 11:17amNeedless to say, we are looking for a new Pediatrician. I hope other parents can learn about this BEFORE the rash appears :-)
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I know I'm a bit late to the party, but thank you so much for this... I was confused why 18month old son had symptoms of measles when hes already been vaccinated against it and the rash didnt look right.
After 3 days of a high fever (highest being 103.0) and treating him with tylenol and motrin it finally stopped today, then getting him ready for the bath I start freaking out because hes covered in a rash...
Couldnt figure out how on earth he caught anything.
Then it occured to me, the last two weekends in a row hes been spending time with his cousins who both attend daycare... Looked up pictures of rashes, nothing matched... except this.
did have one question, did any of you notice when they had the rash around the neck and face that it went up into the hairline? I noticed when washing his hair tonight that the rash was on his scalp as well (I thought maybe it was a heat rash, but it didnt match up)
March 14, 2012 - 7:38pmThis Comment
Im crying as I'm reading your post and Thank god I found it because I thought I was going crazy. My 19 month old has had a fever on and off for the past 5 days. It finally broke last night and this morning when I got her from the bed, she has blotchy spots on her face, stomach, trunk and now legs. No fever. 3 visits to the Dr. No one can tell me what is wrong other than givng her tylenol or motrin every 4 to 6 hours. Blood work and urine tests negative. No cough, runny nose, ear infection or congestion. They made us feel we were crazy. While just like you, have had sleepless nights. I've rocked and sleep on the floor, woke my baby up every 4 hours to make sure she wasn't too hot. Cried and sat in the shower with her at 3 am trying to keep her cool. It's been frustrating. Today after the rash appeared she's back to herself. No fever. Tomorrow is another check up. Let's see what the mystery diagnosis will be. I'm going to print you rpost and hand it ot them.
January 8, 2012 - 9:24pmThis Comment
Oh my god thanks to you... im no longer worried about whats going on with my toddler, as of the moment those are all yhe exact symtoms that my son is having. My wife was at the emergency for 6 hours just waiting to see what dr's have to say.... and they couldnt figure it out, just told us that its some kind of virus that he caught! Can u believe they sent us home the same way we went in the hospital, nothaving a clue of what these symtoms where about. Well, long story short he seems to feelbetter and the rash is slowly going away. Thanks.
September 8, 2011 - 7:20amThis Comment
My 13 month old got a fever this past monday evening, suddenly spiked 102+ and wouldnt break with tylenol and motrin. trip to dr the next day and he was diagnosed with a sore throat. finally, one last bit of fever wed night which was 103.2 that would not come down. next day all was fine. Last night slight fever but nothing major. Then this morning pink dots on face and chest. Its Friday night now and his face is covered and it has spread to back and arms and onto legs a little. He is extremely cranky. wants held at all times. Thank you for posting this...letting us know what it most likely is....Appreciate it greatly. Was about ready to go to er.....
June 17, 2011 - 8:58pmThis Comment
I am so glad my article helped...that is exactly why I wrote it!
I'm still surprised that Roseola is not even mentioned by doctors, just to give first-time parents a "heads up" that a high fever followed by rash is common. We would still take them to the pediatrician just to make sure there is not something more serious...but just to let us know there is a very, very common virus that causes sudden spikes in temperature (along with possible seizure) and an all-over body rash would be pertinent!
I hope your little one is already feeling better. Take care!
June 19, 2011 - 1:38pmThis Comment
Thank you! Super high five to you from the Gillett family in Chicago!
October 20, 2012 - 6:04pmThis Comment
He is feeling better thanks. Rash is gone today. 2 days after it appeared and 6 days since fever spike...He seems normal...eating a little finally and able to play on his own again. lol.
June 19, 2011 - 1:55pmI do agree that parents should be warned...:). It has been a long hard week. I feel for any parent going through it, past present or in the future:)
Thanks again for site and take care:)
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Hi, thanks so much for your post. My son who is 17 months now, had a high fever of over 102 F and after 3 days of fever I was so much hurt to see rashes on his face. The first thought that hit my mind was that he might have got Chicken Pox. My ped told me that it is a common rash post fever but yes I agree with you that doctors should inform these common catching infections to first time parents. I'm relieved after reading this post that my son is getting better. Thanks so much again.
April 18, 2011 - 3:31amThis Comment