Roseola

Signs and Symptoms

1. Sudden high fever.

2. Slight cough.

3. Runny nose.

4. Decreased appetite.

5. Mild diarrhea.

6. Mild irritability, drowsiness.

7. Swollen glands.

8. In advanced stage Convulsions.

9. In advanced stage temperature returns to normal after three to six days; at the same time, a spotty, red, slightly raised rash appears on the torso. Rash may spread to the neck, arms, legs, and face; it disappears in a few hours to a few days.

What to do now

1. Give your child plenty of liquids.

2. Make sure that your child gets rest as long as he or she has a fever.

3. Give a feverish child sponge baths with lukewarm water.

4. Ask doctor if you should give acetaminophen to reduce fever. (Never give aspirin to a child under 12 who has roseola, chicken pox, flu, or any other illness you suspect of being caused by a virus).

When to call a doctor

Call for an immediate appointment:

1. If your child has a temperature of 102 degrees or higher.

2. If your child has convulsions.

How to prevent it

1. To prevent the virus from spreading, don’t let a child with roseola play with other children until it clears up.

2. Make sure all family members wash their hands frequently, especially before touching food and after using the bathroom.