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 son is 20 months old. The other night he had a high fever and the next day a rash all over his body. I've been reading and trying to figure it out but its strange when all his body is full of slightly hard, formely pink dots that make his skin feel like so strange. It seems to be going away but im wondering how long the dots (or pimples) will go away. Does any one know or remember how long before they completetly clear?
September 5, 2009 - 8:53pmThis Comment
I'm wondering how your son is? I don't recall the bumps being on top of the skin (palpable; where you can feel them), but rather, they were under the skin and considered more rash-like.
If you took your son to the pediatrician, we would love to hear what his diagnosis was, as slightly hard bumps may have been something else that would be helpful to include on this thread.
The rash from Roseola lasted just a day or two, with the first 12-24 hours being the worst of it...it quickly subsides after this time period, and small traces of rash may still be seen for a few days. The rash literally comes-and-goes, as the fever seemed to be the worst part of the ordeal.
October 18, 2009 - 6:29amThis Comment
My 22 month old daughter is now in the rash stage of Roseola...I had never heard of it, she had a fever since last friday, then saturday just a temperature and then saturday evening out of nowhere has a febrile seizure...we called the ambulance, and then on the way to the hospital she had 2 more. The ER dr. diagnosed her as having a double ear infection..which was backed up by a second ER dr. We had a prescription for penecilyn and went home. The next day she had 3 doses of the antibiotics and the fever never left. We used Motrin every 6 hours and tylenol in between to control the temp and keep it under control (as instructed). Then she wakes up Monday with a fever higher then ever at 39.6, I take her to the dr and he does not see any signs of one ear infection, never mind two. He can't explain what has taken place and says keep an eye on her. Then Monday evening, I change her for bed, and she has a newly developed rash all over her back...I take her back to an after hours clinic and they say stop the penicilyn and see her dr. again on Tuesday. We then go home monday night, and her fever is gone. Rash in full bloom but no fever..yeahoo!! then we get confirmation its Roseola....after 5 days of scary temp and seizures, I am well learned in the situation and I do wish that more people had insight to this common virus!!!!!!
September 2, 2009 - 11:35amThis Comment
hello! i have been looking everywhere on the internet for the cause of my 3yr old daughter high fever with a rash all over her body. the fever started on a thursday morning and the rash came out friday afternoon. the fever has been gone since friday morning but now she has rash all over her body. also around face. nose is a little swollen aroung top of nose between eyes and also eyes as well. she has not been itchy or saying it hurts. she has been eating and drinking great. if you have any suggestions please let me know if you would. i am too a first time mommy doing this alone so. i called her doctor and she said she still eating and drinking w/ no diarreah, no change in food or laundry soap so i just got concerned. they said it was a viral infection. any advice would be very apprieciated thanks a bunch. sincerely, a single mommy from texas:)
August 15, 2009 - 7:33amThis Comment
I'm glad you found this site! We are not able to diagnose, but if your pediatrician says that your daughter sounds fine, then I'm sure she is. You can always make an appointment to have her checked out for your piece of mind.
The symptoms that you describe your daughter having are exactly the same as my son's, who was "diagnosed" with Roseola. (I say "diagnosed", because there was no diagnostic test). Roseola is a viral infection, as is the "common cold", influenza and many other childhood illnesses. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done with these types of viral infections except time for the immune system to fight the virus, and we can just treat the symptoms to help our kiddos feel better. If her rash is not itchy, and is not bothering her; she is eating & drinking with no change in her diaper "activity"...then we can just help the symptoms of stuffy noses, headache, fever...per your pediatrician's recommendations of over-the-counter medications specifically made for children.
It is now Tuesday, and I'm wondering if your daughter's rash (that began on Friday) is gone? Any changes over the weekend?
August 18, 2009 - 11:44amThis Comment
I'm glad you all found this information helpful! I agree---so many parents are posting about a high fever and rash (all caused from a virus), and am surprised it is not discussed as a possible/probable childhood illness. We can all talk with our pediatricians and let them know that we do want this information, and our discussing it will also help get the word out.
August 6, 2009 - 2:20pmThis Comment
Isn't it great when a "village" comes together to help raise a child? Our daughter had a high fever for approx. 48 hours followed by an abrupt break in the fever and a sudden, telltale pink rash. She has what we think to be a very mild case of roseola. Other than irritability and a decreased appetite, she's fine. I do think it would've been helpful for us (as new parents of a now 2-year-old) to have been given some warning about more uber-common toddler illnesses like this one. Thanks for the article and everyone's input!
August 6, 2009 - 9:50amThis Comment
thank you for all this helpful information. My son is 2 & 1/2 and had very high fevers for the past three nights ( at night only during the day he had a low grade fever and was whiney and cranky). we went to the dr and they said it was a "virus" (what is that???) he broke out in a rash today.. Of course I looked it up on the internet and found this great information. Luckily for us no seizures. again thanks for the helpful info!
July 14, 2009 - 12:44pmThis Comment
i just wanted to say to the mom above that you are a very strong mommy being calm about the seizures! my son now 11 months has had 3 febrile seizures one at 6 months thank god i was at the pediatric when it happened and 2 last month one on a wednesday the 2nd that thursday where he stopped breathing and was turning blue all over and if it wouldnt have been for our neighbors who one is a nurse and her husband a fireman i dont know where he would be. No matter how much they say its normal i will never get used to them and will always freak out needless to say he has been having a low fever for the past couple of days and i have followed the hospitals advice on being on top of it because i dont want to go through that again and he has kept a temp of 99-100.3 and i took him today to the doc and he said it was roseola. IM confused since i read it comes with a high fever but he didnt get that but maybe it was because i kept him on motrin and tylenol around the clock the first days and just once daily after that he has had eeg's and mri's and everything was normal so at least i know its just those fevers!
June 11, 2009 - 2:03pmThis Comment
Goodness, Alison, how very scary.
My older son had similar experiences when he was in Middle School - unexplained high fevers that would come and go about every 30 days. But, his doctor never said anything about Roseola. The fevers continued for nearly 2 years! It's very frightening to have to take an older child to the ER, let alone a toddler, and not know what's going on.
To this day, we still don't know. But, he is fine and hasn't had any more feverish bouts.
Hang in there. I hope these episodes don't turn into something more drastic for your son.
March 3, 2009 - 5:35pmThis Comment