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 two year old had a 105 degree fever for the better part time of 4 days. The doctor thinks its Roseola but we're still waiting for the rash. The fever is gone now, thankfully, but she is cranky as hell, which is very unlike her
Anyway, this article helped me tremendously when she was burning up:
http://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/shows.php?shows=0_zzvhzkjk
Just wanted to pass it on to help ease some troubled parents out there.
April 4, 2016 - 5:08pmThis Comment
Hi there
September 21, 2015 - 8:31pmIf someone could help me ..I would really appreciated coz I am sick of docs ..and 811 are suck of my phone calls..
My 4 year old daughter is generally healthy kid that love to move around..she started her morning with a low grade fever for few hours and I gave her advil..her temp started to go down until its normal..then at night it got up to 40!! That was really scary ..gave her advil and washed her limbs with water until the fever started to subside..took her to the doc next morning and he said she has bacterial infection in her throat and ears..gave us antibiotics and just gave her one dose afternoon then few hourse later started this scary rash in her cheeks which in two hours gone away but I stopped the antibiotic just in case..then rash came back in the morning so took her to the doc and rash gone on the way to the doc..anyway the other doc said it is Roseola and said because the rash came and gone she should good now..BUT she was ok until night then her temp is up but feeling ok..is that possible in Roseola to have more fever AFTER the rash?(the fever lasted for two days then rash came then gone then fever is back!!..sorry for the lengthy comment.take care
This Comment
My 4 year old is going through the rash phase. She had a fever for a week and 2 days. We went to the ER twice and her regular doctor also. So now that the fever is gone the rash has occurred so what do I do?
September 13, 2015 - 12:01pmThis Comment
You do nothing for rash. I did warm baths and baby lotion it was gone fully in a few days. My little guy was super cranky till rash went away.
September 21, 2015 - 8:45pmThis Comment
Oh my goodness thank you SO MUCH for posting this!! My 16mo was just in the ER because she had the same rash....and 4 says before that, a fever that would cone and go, getting as high as 103. When I took her into the ER for the fever (because I was afraid of a seizure happening) and they said the same thing with the motrin and tylenol. I was uncomfortable giving her that much medication, so I helped reduce the fever with cold compresses, a dip in the pool (the water was cold), and kept her hydrated. It helped break the fever and sure enough a few days later she got the rash! My mum felt bad because she thought it was because she gave the baby some egg. Went to the ER and they said it was a viral rash and it will go away. Im glad it actually has a name, and like you said, I wish ghis was something they tell new moms!
July 28, 2015 - 9:04pmThis Comment
My son had this at 10mo. It was the most scariest thing ever. He fell asleep for a nap at 4 (very usual for him) woke up at 6 burning up. Checked his temp (rectal) and got 101.9. He never gets fevers. So i gave him tylanol and figured he would be ok. Not even four hours later he waa up to 103 called doc and and gave him inprofin. I was only able to get it down to 101 wouldnt go lower and would spike up faster then i ever seen. Doc said alternate tylanol n ibprofin which i did. I dont like medication but i refuse to play with fevers. This can cause seizurs and can cause brian damage and i wont allow myself to subject my child to that. We went to the doc next day couldnt find a ything said its viral. Same thing happened for 3 days went back to doc on the fourth day and still nothing. Same day we went to doc his fever never went back up after his 3pm dose. He seemed a bit more cranky then normal but eating and drinking. Two days later i seen a red rash start from behind his ears and neck which soon went to his belly and above his butt. Called doc and sure enough it was roseola
July 28, 2015 - 9:32pmThis Comment
Thank you all for posting. My 11 month old starting running a fever 4 days ago. The doc said probably a virus but did not name it. He ran 103 fever for four days. I was terrified. He is normally a happy baby and never cries. All he did was cry and would not eat. finally day 5 and the fever is gone but now a red rash on his back, belly, and head. And he is very cranky. Same as some others, the doc never mentioned this. I had to google it. As scary as this is with such a high fever it seems they would warn parents.
May 9, 2015 - 7:03pmThis Comment
My son is almost 9 months. Sunday he took an evening nap woke up felt like he was on fire. Sure enough 101.9. So I gave tylanol a bath and we went to bed. Woke up at 2am and he was on fire wit a temp of 102.6 the. It went down On its own and by 7am back up to 102. We gave ibuprofen which doc suggested. Went to do Monday at 10am. Doc said just a virus. Went back to doc wends day at 1130 fever would not go lower then 101 with meds. I didn't do round the clock meds just when fever would go up to 101.9 and he seemed unhappy. Besides the fever and congested nose he seemed ok. he would wake four times during the night arching back and screaming for no reason. Had to put on a nursing pillow he would nurse pass out and I lay him back to bed. Wends I gave a dose of tylanol at 350 he was 101.6. gave baby cool bath and never seen the fever again itas Ted exactly three days. however he was still weak like but at least nursing and started taking a little bit of fruit. He was however taking a nap every two to three hours passing out for up to two hours each time. Friday during a nap I noticed blotch markes almost like hives on face back of neck ear and chin. Called doc and she said classic symptom of roseola that explins his fever. I have not given meds since however I'm debating to give him some at night. He screams and has become very cranky (my crabby patty) very irritable always wanting to be held and still sleeping a lot. It is now sat. The rash spread to back above his butt belly legs face kinda all over. It's hard to notice it but it's there. I was told rash can last up to six days. Seems like as long as rash is there they are mad. He is still waking at night a few times seems uncomfortable cries and screams for up to ten min then falls asleep. When does this end..poor kids
January 24, 2015 - 1:28pmThis Comment
i think my daughter has a roseola. today is the Fourth day of her fever but it suddenly gone thanks God. but there is rashes all over her body now from her face to her back and stomach. and its not itchy and it doesn't hurt her.. shes only one year and nine months.. but she takes all the two bottles of paracetamol 60ml each in just 3 days coz her fever is not suppressing at all. right now she has no fever what my question is what cn i do to the rashes. what im gonna do now?
December 14, 2014 - 8:33amThis Comment
Thank you for all your comments.
August 9, 2014 - 7:13pmI wanted to send my little precious one to the doctor. Now I think I should not worry about it.
Fever lasted 4 days. During these days was not much rash. Now after 2 days without fever, the rash is becoming more and more. She is happy playing and doesn't seem to be bothered by rash.
Thank you again and long life to your little angels!
This Comment