Patient education: Roseola (The Basics)

What is roseola? — Roseola is a common illness in children younger than 2 years. It causes a fever that lasts 3 to 5 days and then a rash. Roseola can be alarming to parents, because it can cause a high fever. But usually, the condition is not serious and goes away without treatment.

What are the symptoms of roseola? — The main symptoms of roseola are:

●Fever

•Might get as high as 104°F (40°C) or above

•Lasts 3 to 5 days

●Rash (picture 1)

•Starts as the fever is going away

•Shows up first on the neck, chest, and belly, then spreads to the face, arms, and legs

•Can be pink-reddish in color

•Might be harder to see on children with darker skin

•Normally does not itch

•Lasts for 1 to 2 days in most children, but might come and go within 2 to 4 hours

Despite the fever and rash, most children with roseola do not seem sick. Still, some children have other symptoms such as:

●Being tired

●Being fussy

●Not being hungry

●Swollen eyelids

●Swelling in the neck or behind the ears

Is there anything I can do on my own to help my child? — When your child has a fever, you can do the following:

●Offer them lots of fluids to drink. Call the doctor or nurse if your child won't or can't drink fluids for more than a few hours.

●Encourage your child to rest as much as they want

Medicines such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin) can help bring down a fever. But children don't usually need medicine for a fever unless they are uncomfortable. Check with your doctor or nurse about giving medicine for a fever.

Never give your child aspirin. Aspirin can cause a dangerous condition called Reye syndrome in children under 18 years.

Should my child see a doctor or nurse? — You should take your child to see the doctor or nurse if they are:

●Younger than 3 months and have a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Any infant with a fever this high should see a doctor or nurse even if they look normal or seem fine.

●Between 3 and 36 months old and have a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher for more than 3 days. Go right away if your child seems sick or is fussy, clingy, or refuses to drink fluids.

●Between 3 and 36 months old and have a rectal temperature of 102°F (38.9°C) or higher

Children of any age should also see a doctor or nurse if they have:

●Oral, rectal, ear, or forehead temperature of 104°F (40°C) or higher

●Armpit temperature of 103°F (39.4°C) or higher

●A seizure caused by a fever

●Fevers that keep coming back, even if they last only a few hours

●A fever as well as an ongoing medical problem, such as heart disease, cancer, lupus, or sickle cell anemia

●A fever as well as a new skin rash

Will my child need tests? — Probably not. The doctor or nurse will probably be able to tell if your child has roseola by learning about their symptoms and doing an exam.

How is roseola treated? — There is no treatment for roseola. The condition usually goes away on its own. But some children get medicines to bring down their fever.

More on this topic

Patient education: Fever in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Giving your child over-the-counter medicines (The Basics)