Roseola
Overview
Roseola is a very common infection that mainly affects babies and toddlers. It usually causes a high temperature and a rash. You can normally look after your child at home and they should recover within a week.
Symptoms
If your child has roseola, at first they may have: a sudden high temperaturecold-like symptoms such as a sore throat, runny nose and a coughloss of appetiteswollen eyelids and swollen glands in their neck These symptoms last 3 to 5 days, before a rash appears. The rash: is made up of pinkish-red spots, patches or bumpsmay be harder to see on brown or black skinstarts on the chest, tummy and back, before spreading to the face, neck and armsis not usually itchy or uncomfortablenormally fades and disappears within 2 days
Causes
Viral infection (Herpes virus 6/7). Affects babies/toddlers.
Treatment
Rest; Fluids; Paracetamol/Ibuprofen for fever.
Prevention
Hand hygiene (virus spreads via saliva).
When to see a doctor
See GP if: high fever in baby <3 months; seizure (fit); rash doesn't fade.