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Roseola infantum - Roseola infantum or 6th disease (Pediatrics - PEDS)

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Common-
Exanthema subitum (also known as Childhood Rubella or 6th disease) is a disease caused by a virus (herpes virus 6 or 7) that mainly involves children with ages comprised between 3 months and 2 years. It is transmitted through a respiratory route through small respiratory droplets of saliva and/or mucus. Typical symptoms are moderate-high fever for 3-4 days and when the fever disappears, a rash of reddish marks which are not itchy may appear, particularly in the trunk, back and neck. The diagnosis is reached through regular collection of clinical records and physical examination. Additional tests are not usually required. Since it is a virus, there is not any specific treatment. The only treatment of the symptoms is recommended (antipyretic treatment for fever and providing plenty of fluids). The evolution of the disease is usually very good and the symptoms disappear 24-72 hours after the fever disappears.
Bibliographic references
  1. Stone RC, Micali GA, Schwartz RA. Roseola infantum and its causal human herpesviruses. Int J Dermatol. 2014 Apr;53(4):397-403. Review.
  2. Tesini BL, Epstein LG, Caserta MT. Clinical impact of primary infection with roseoloviruses. Curr Opin Virol. 2014 Dec;9:91-6. doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2014.09.013. Epub 2014 Oct 14. Review.
  3. Cherry JD. Roseola infantum (exanthem subitum). In: Feigin and Cherry’s Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 7th ed, Cherry JD, Harrison GJ, Kaplan SL, et al (Eds), Elsevier Saunders, Philadelphia 2014. p.768
  4. Agut H, Bonnafous P, Gautheret-Dejean A. Laboratory and clinical aspects of human herpesvirus 6 infections. Clin Microbiol Rev 2015; 28:313.
  5. Laina I, Syriopoulou VP, Daikos GL, et al. Febrile seizures and primary human herpesvirus 6 infection. Pediatr Neurol 2010; 42:28.
Author
Dr. Maria Trabazo
Copyright
© TeckelMedical 2026

Symptoms

    Skin rash

    Fever in the days before the rash appeared

    Fever between 39ºC / 102.2ºF and 39.9ºC / 103.82ºF

    Fever / Feel very hot

    Irritability

Symptoms to watch out for

Fever not relieved by antipyretics (paracetamol, ibuprofen)
Persistence of symptoms for more than two weeks after initial treatment

Self-care

Take over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatories.
Relative rest, rest until symptoms subside.
Maintain a fluid intake of 6 - 8 cups per day.
Antihistamines in syrup or tablet form for itching.
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