Self Care Articles

Is this your child's symptom?

• Widespread fine pink rash caused by Roseola virus
• Classic feature is that the rash is preceded by 3 to 5 days of high fever
• The fever goes away before the rash starts
• A doctor has told you that your child probably has Roseola or
• Rash occurs after several days of fever. Fever gone now and your child feels fine.

Symptoms of Roseola

• Most children get Roseola between 6 months and 3 years of age.
• Rash: Pink, small, flat spots on the chest and stomach. Rash is the same on both sides of the body. Then may spread to the face and arms.
• Classic feature: 3 to 5 days of high fever without a rash or other symptoms.
• The rash starts 12 to 24 hours after the fever goes away.
• The rash lasts 1 to 3 days.
• By the time the rash appears, the child feels fine.

Cause of Roseola

• Human herpes virus 6 (HHV6)

Viral Rashes and Drug Rashes

• Prescription drugs sometimes cause widespread rashes.
• Non-prescription (OTC) drugs rarely cause any rashes.
• Most rashes that occur while taking an OTC drug are viral rashes.
• Fever medicines (acetaminophen and ibuprofen) cause the most confusion. Reason: most viral rashes start with a fever. Hence, the child is taking a fever med when the rash starts. But, the fever med had nothing to do with the rash.
• Drug rashes can't be diagnosed over the phone.

Prevention

• Good hand washing can prevent spread of infection.