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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Add a Comment71 Comments
Hi. Im not sure if my son is experiencing the same thing. He basically had fever from Friday afternoon til Sunday morning. It was on and off too. And then suddenly on a Monday, I saw some tiny pinkish dots in his chest, back and belly. Now it's a Tuesday but he still have it. He scratch alot today rather than yesterday, mainly on his head and sometimes his bottoms too. He is acting all normal and still is going to school. As the doctor advised that if he is not unwell anyway, then there is no reason for him not to go to school. Hope this rashes will go away soon.
July 8, 2014 - 11:45amThis Comment
My 16 month old daughter that was diagnosed with Roseola. Five days of fever and crying through out the day and night. Today is day 6, rash going away and no fever. At times my she is still fussy and crying. Could it be there is something else going on?
June 3, 2014 - 1:06pmThis Comment
I believe my 2 year old has this right now. Random fever started on Thursday and has been off and on since. The last fever was last night (Sunday) he got to 102.8! He ran around and played the entire time. Today is Monday and hr is covered in this rash. Face to feet and arms. The on call Dr said it if probably from the fever an to just let it run its course. He Never once mentioned this name of Roseola. He should have tho. I hate having to Google everything like "fever now red pink rash". Glad I did you ho and read all your comments. Thanks for your help Patents! You helped me feel better. But I'm scared about the his seizure thing. Is this during the fever or rash part? We are going on 24 hrs of no fever. Thanks!
May 27, 2013 - 10:14pmThis Comment
thanks to this post im relieved. my 9-month-old had a fever for 3 days. was gone yesterday but today he's got rashes on his torso and face. but he's eating normal, playing and smiling a lot. a bit irritated tho maybe coz of the itch. thank you for posting this! God Bless!
~ Kali's Mom
March 16, 2013 - 10:42pmThis Comment
My little one has had 2 febrile seizures within a 15 day period. Im not sure if by fluke, or if related. She is 16 months old. They were extremely scarey for my husband and I. I had a seizure also at 15 months old, it does run in the family. This second time around, they said she may have pnemonia, and gave her a percription. 2 days after starting that, she has broken out in a rash. I think it may be roseola, however she is very itchy on her head. Doc says it might be, but really didnt confirm, since she thought it was a reaction from her previous meds. they switched the meds, but I hate seeing her go through all of this. I am extremely scared and paranoid she will have another seizure. I have ordered a video monitor for more peice of mind. I have been giving her benedryl hoping it relieves some of the itchiness. Its comforting to hear that other people are going through the same experiences.
November 17, 2012 - 6:47amThis Comment
We are having the same thing here. Just commenting so there's more of a recent reply. Our baby girl is 16 Months as well. Seems to fall in the range of all the commenters below. I also found out as well that there could be an incubation period for this infection of 5 to 15 days before the first symptoms appear. She does not spend time with a lot of kids, but I spent some time with another family about 6 nights before with their 3 and 5 yr old's, and I must have brought it back home to her.
Day 1: Sunday Night - Fever, irritable, wakes up every few hours
Day 2: Monday - Fever during the day 102.7F (under armpit). Drowsy with fever spiking every few hours. More frequent naps due to lack of good sleep during the night. Gave children's ibuprofen, fever reduces. Appetite temporarily comes back.
Day 3: Tuesday - Same
Day 4: Wednesday - Fever Breaks, followed by the rash. Late afternoon, she is more irratible than ever. Our rash started more noticably in the face. She does not want to walk anymore, and wants to always be carried. Any little thing will make her cry.
Day 5: Thursday - Body gets hot on and off with fever reaching 101. Later at night, she seemed to get more irritable. Gave childrens ibuprofen again. Appetite comes back temporarily. She ate and we put her to bed at 10pm. She wakes up screaming (it seems to be in pain) at 1am in the middle of the night. We keep asking her what's wrong, but she couldn't say. She can't really talk yet, but we were gesturing, and she couldn't say.
I am typing this at 2am, she is awake iwth mom watching TV. she just stopped crying after an hour of LOUD crying.
As I read this article, it seems like this is near the end of the symptoms, but it's been a hard week for me as well as other commenters. I was thinking about bringing her into the hospital in the morning, but we'll see how she does during the day.
Hope this helps others as well. I have a close friend that is a doctor and he suggested it may be Roseola. I guess he hit it right on the spot. Thank you for this article
October 26, 2012 - 1:58amThis Comment
my baby had the exact symptomps, only thing is she didnt have appetitte at all.
June 13, 2014 - 1:47amThis Comment
This EXACTLY the same thing we are going through. It was like you were writing the story for our son. Im glad to hopefully have an answer. I was not happy with the answer the Dr. in the ER gave us, and Benedryl did nothing! I am going to research this a little more. Thank you!!
June 16, 2013 - 4:14pmThis Comment
glad to see this post. its a great relief after reading this, saved a doctor visit unnecessarily.
September 3, 2012 - 6:48amregards,
shakti
This Comment
God bless on guys for sharing the knowledge. I was scared n confused to see the pink dots on my son face. It's been three days. Just try to comfort the baby .
August 17, 2012 - 2:20pmThis Comment