Sudden exanthema (also known as infantile roseola or 6th disease) is a viral disease that mainly affects children between the ages of 3 months and 2 years.
The herpes 6 or 7 virus is transmitted between infected and healthy people through the respiratory tract in small droplets of saliva and/or mucus.
The most common symptoms are a moderate to high fever for 3-4 days, which disappears before giving way to a rash of reddish, usually non-itching spots, especially on the torso, back and neck.
Diagnosis is made on the basis of a typical clinical history and physical examination, and no additional tests are required.
As it is a viral infection, there is no specific treatment, only management of the symptoms (antipyretic treatment for fever and plenty of fluids). The course of the disease is generally very good, with symptoms disappearing 24-72 hours after the fever has gone.
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