Signs and Symptoms of Roseola

In general, roseola is a mild viral infection that has a greater impact among children within the age bracket of 6 months from birth to 3 years of age, although this infection is a rare occurrence when it comes to adult individuals. In fact, roseola is so common to children that by the time that they have to enter their kindergarten stage they have been infected already.

The typical condition of roseola is characterized by several days of high fever and in some cases it is followed after by a rash. Roseola infection can happen almost any time; some children may develop only mild cases of this condition while there are other children who are experiencing the full extent of the signs and symptoms of roseola. Usually roseola is not typically a serious condition. Complications are rare as a result of a very high fever.  

The common sign and symptoms of roseola are fever and rash. When infected with roseola, the fever will start at a very high temperature that may reach 103 F. or much greater than that. Infected children will also experience runny nose or mild sore throat al accompaniment of the high fever. Swollen gland in the neck may also develop alongside the high fever which lasts for three days to a week. The rashes typically make its appearances after the fever subsides, but it may not always happen. The

rashes are made up of many patches of small pink spots which may be raised or flat spots and a white ring may also be visible just around some of the spots. These rashes may start on the back, stomach and chest and gradually spreads to the arms and neck, although it may not reach and spread to your face or to your legs. The rashes will last for several hours that can reach to several days before it finally fades, however, they will not be itchy or uncomfortable at all. Other related symptoms of roseola may include swollen eyelids, mild diarrhea, decreased appetite, fatigue and irritability in children and infants.

Human herpes viruses specifically HHV6 are the most common causes of roseola but there are also cases when HHV7 are the ones causing it. These types of herpes viruses are usually related to the same viruses that causes genital herpes and cold sores but in totally different form. Like other viral infections, roseola can be spread from one person to another through saliva and respiratory secretions. While the babies are still in the uterus of their mother, they have been given antibodies already to fight against infections such as roseola. These antibodies will protect them in their newborn stage, although this immunity will fade in time. From 6 months to three years of age is the susceptibility age bracket for children to contract roseola.  Undeveloped antibodies of older infants that fight against the invasion of many viruses are reasons for their high vulnerability of acquiring roseola at an early age. Specific treatments for roseola are not available and antibiotics are not effective. Best treatments are lots of fluids, medications to help reduce the fever and plenty of bed rest.