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exanthema subitum
Roseola, also known as sixth disease, is an infectious disease caused by certain types of human herpes viruses. Most infections occur before the age of three. Symptoms vary from absent to the classic presentation of a fever of rapid onset followed by a rash. The fever generally lasts for three to five days, while the rash is generally pink and lasts for less than three days. Complications may include febrile seizures, with serious complications being rare.
Key facts
- Medical condition (new).name
- Roseola
- Medical condition (new).synonyms
- Exanthema subitum, roseola infantum, sixth disease, baby measles, rose rash of infants, three-day fever
- Medical condition (new).image
- Roseola on a 21-month-old girl.jpg
- Medical condition (new).caption
- Roseola rash on the arms and legs of a 21-month-old girl
- Medical condition (new).field
- Infectious disease
- Medical condition (new).symptoms
- Fever followed by rash
- Medical condition (new).complications
- Febrile seizures
- Medical condition (new).onset
- Before the age of 3, usually somewhere at age 2
- Medical condition (new).duration
- Few days
- Medical condition (new).causes
- Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) or human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7)
- Medical condition (new).diagnosis
Article
17 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Fever
- Rash
- Other symptoms
- Cause
- Spread
- Diagnosis
- Prevention
- Treatment
- Prognosis
- Epidemiology
- History
- Names
- Research
- See also
- References
- External links
Roseola, also known as sixth disease, is an infectious disease caused by certain types of human herpes viruses. Most infections occur before the age of three. Symptoms vary from absent to the classic presentation of a fever of rapid onset followed by a rash. The fever generally lasts for three to five days, while the rash is generally pink and lasts for less than three days. Complications may include febrile seizures, with serious complications being rare.
It is caused by human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6A, HHV-6B) or human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7). Spread is usually through the saliva of those who are otherwise healthy. However, it may also spread from the mother to the baby during pregnancy. Diagnosis is typically based on symptoms and does not need to be confirmed with blood tests (PCR or antigen). Low numbers of white blood cells may also be present.