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?
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment71 Comments
My 23 month-old son has Febrile Seizures that started at about 15 months. My pediatrician also told me to give him a regime of tylenol and ibuprofen, rotate every 3-4 hours.
April 7, 2011 - 8:40amThey have never mentioned anything to me regarding Roseola, but i've never noticed a rash either.
Over the past couple of months, he has had about 5 seizures .. the fever has/was always thought to be triggered by an illness (strep, ear infections, bronchitis, etc-- he has had all of the mentioned) However, the last few seizures occured suddenly, with no underlying virus or bacteria, that could be detected. In fact, I had had him into his Doctor ealry one morning for a general followup to his strep throat treatment.. he checked out prefectly.. ears, throat, lungs were all clear. That evening he had two seizures nad a fever of 103.6 at it's highest. The fever was brought on suddenly, and broke as suddenly as it came. The doctor didn't find any underlying virus to cause the sudden fever.
I'm now to a point where I am calm and able to handle his seizures, but concerned about what is causing the sudden spike and break in fever.
FYI-- I also sleep on the floor of my son's room on nights he has seized-- I hate the fact that he would experience it without me being by his side. :)
This Comment
I am sorry he is having febrile seizures so often! Have all of his seizures been related to a high fever?
April 7, 2011 - 11:58amThis Comment
My son who is 6 months and half had high fever for three days. On the 4th day we got him admitted. the fever was 102 for 2 days inspite of the medications. On the third day I woke up to a shocking sight. My son was covered with rashes all over his body, including his face. We all suspected it to be Measles. However, when the doctor came, she said it was just normal rashes. She didnt even mean what kind of rash and why did it happen. But everyone who came by to visit commented it to be measles, including some senior nurses. Iam so confused.
August 25, 2010 - 1:35amThis Comment
My daughter out of no where go a fever of 103 for a couple of days - I was able to control it with both Tylenol and then Advil....after day 2 it broke and then day 3 she started to get a rash and today day 4 the rash on her back and neck is worse. I called The doctor and they said it was from her fever and if it got worse to take her to the clinic. The rash is worse tonight so tomorrow I am taking her to the children's clinic. She is not herself you can tell, but better than she was with her fever for 2 days. I was thinking it was her 2 yr molars....starting to come thru - but maybe not - will keep you posted.
March 26, 2010 - 9:52pmThis Comment
Just following up - I never took her to the doctor as her rash is pretty much gone now and her energy is back to normal - so I am pretty sure that is what she had.
Brenda
March 27, 2010 - 2:26pmThis Comment
Hi
My son is nearly 3 years old and he got the symptoms of Roseola, pink dots on face, neck, chest and back after high fever. By the way, do you kids cough when they have Roseola?
Cheers
Andrew
March 20, 2010 - 12:09amThis Comment
Hi Andrew,
How is your son doing after his high fever and rash?
According to the Mayo Clinic's page on Roseola, the symptoms do not include a cough, and that was my experience as well. The symptoms include primarily the high fever, possible seizures, then other symptoms include irritability, fatigue, diarrhea, lack of appetite.
Your son could be coughing from another virus (it is common, once a child is exposed to one virus, that their immune system is fighting off the first virus and they can be more susceptible to additional viruses), including common cold, strep throat or any number of "bugs" going around. It could also be allergies. The pediatrician usually wants to know more about the cough: is it "productive" or is it a "dry" cough? How long has it lasted?
March 21, 2010 - 1:32pmThis Comment
hi. in regards to fevers I was told conflicting advice also. My doctor has told me to give the fever medicine to reduce the fever and stay on top of it but when I was in the ER after my daughter had her first feberal seizure. they told me that giving medicine doesn't prevent the seizures. My daughter was 11 months when she had her first seizure and just a few weeks ago at 20 months she had her second. I can asure you that before leaving to bring her to the hospital I gave her medicine for her fever which I had been staying on top of all day. although the medicine wouold help in bringing her fever down a little, it was still pretty high so i decided i should bring her to hospital. like I said I gave her tylenol about 1/2 hour before leaving but she ended up having a seizure in the car on her way down. I think the best thing is to keep as little clothes as possible on so there body temperature stays down. just thought i would share my experience with you.
March 1, 2010 - 7:19pmThis Comment
Hi,
After reading your post and re-reading my original post, I realized this may not be conflicting information...just confusing information. The "fever medicine" does not prevent seizures, and I hope no doctor has said this! The fever medicine is only to help manage the symptoms of the fever, so that your child is more comfortable. Certainly once the medication wears off, if the child's fever rises suddenly again, then a febrile seizure can occur again.
Also, it is best to keep the child cool, but still clothed (depending on climate), as if the child gets too cold or if they feel drafts of cool air on exposed skin, this can create their body to shiver from the coolness...and the shivering can actually increase their temperature. It's a balance between making your child comfortable, cool but not too cold or "drafty", and managing their symptoms with medicine if appropriate. A fever in-and-of-itself is not bad, and is actually their body's way of being helpful!
I am so sorry your child had two febrile seizures before the age of 2. My son did as well, and it is the scariest thing we have been through with him. He is now 3.5, and has had a high fever with no seizure...we hope he has grown out of that phase, as I hope we never have to witness the seizure/blue lips/no breathing again.. it's just a parent's worst nightmare (and, we have plenty of them regarding our little ones!)
Thank you for sharing your experience with us, and I hope your little girl is feeling good!
March 21, 2010 - 1:25pmThis Comment
I was reading you blog and find it quite interesting...my 21 month old has an epilepsy and febrile seizure as well and just over a week ago she had another seizure and i just today after i gave her a bath i noticed some rashes all over her back and around her tighs...i'm not sure what specific rash she has but as i search on google Reseola is pretty much what she's got...but i also found out that this type of rash is not contagious...and that rashes comes out when the viral infection is gone.Both of my daughters got the febrile seizure but only one has the epilepsy...and i tell yah it is the most horrible thing watching your kids go thru it...and pretty much there's nothing else you can do but to make sure they don't choke or physically hurt themselves...and once they get the febrile seizure they will pretty much get it again unless you keep the fever down...and about the fever...anything above 101 you should start giving him a warm bath...it usually helps to keep their fever down. My daughter had high fevers two months in a row..just last month she had another seizure and again this month both caused by high fever...
God Bless!
February 25, 2010 - 11:04pmThis Comment