My DD has roseola She's in the rash stage now so she's not infectious anymore. Has anyone else had experience with it? Can they get it more than once? How long did the rashes last? The NP was pretty vague about how long I'd see rashes for.

By Tink on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 12:04 am:

My oldest dd had this and when she got hot, even several weeks later, the rash would reappear on her tummy and back. She has very fair skin so I don't know if this is the usual. The initial rash only lasted a few days. I think you can only get it once but I'm not positive about that.

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 07:42 am:

My son had this as a toddler. Gosh, that was 7 yrs. ago! Here's an article:

BabyCenter.com - Roseola

Roseola

My child has a spotty pinkish red rash on her stomach. Could it be roseola?
It may be. Roseola, or roseola infantum, is a fairly mild and common childhood disease that causes a fever and a rash. Sometimes called "baby measles," it strikes between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. It's caused by a herpes virus (not the sexually transmitted kind), and usually lasts only about a week.

What are the other symptoms of roseola?
Roseola usually starts with a moderate to high fever. Your baby's temperature may hover between 101 and 105 degrees F for two to five days and then abruptly return to normal. Once the fever subsides, a spotty raised rosy pink rash will appear on your child's torso and perhaps spread to her neck, face, and arms. The rash is not itchy or uncomfortable and usually lasts only a day or two. Your child may also be listless and have a runny nose, mild diarrhea, a decreased appetite, and enlarged lymph nodes in the front or sides of the neck or lower back of the head.

Occasionally children with roseola suffer a febrile seizure, or fever convulsion, brought on by a rapid rise in temperature. If this happens your baby may lose consciousness and jerk her arms, legs, or face for two or three minutes; she may also lose control of her bladder or bowels. If you can, try to time the length of the seizure; your pediatrician will want to know this information when you call. Although frightening, fever convulsions in young children are seldom serious and rarely harmful. Still, you should report a fever seizure to your pediatrician right away.

Should I call the doctor?
Yes. Most doctors will want to know if a child under 2 has a high fever over 101 degrees F. The advice nurse or pediatrician will ask about your child's symptoms and may tell you to look for the rash after a few days. If the fever persists and if the rash lasts longer than a couple of days or changes appearance, your pediatrician will probably want you to come in.

How can I treat roseola?
There's no specific treatment for this illness. The most important thing you can do is to make sure your child rests and gets plenty of liquids. If the doctor okays it, you can give your child children's acetaminophen to reduce her fever. Never give a child aspirin; it can cause Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially deadly disease. A lukewarm sponge bath can soothe the discomfort of the fever. Like most viruses, roseola just needs to run its course.

Is roseola contagious?
Yes, particularly among young children, though no one knows exactly how it spreads. As long as your toddler has both a fever and a rash, keep her home from daycare and away from other kids. If she just has the rash, she doesn't have to be isolated from others. (A child who is exposed may come down with the illness in a week to 10 days.) Almost everyone has antibodies to roseola by the time they're 4, whether or not they had a visible case of the virus. Even so, make sure all family members — particularly people taking care of your sick child — wash their hands frequently.

By Coopaveryben on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 04:53 pm:

My kids have gotten it for the past two summers, keeping my fingers crossed we will not get it this year. The worst part is over if your DD has the rash, the rash just looks bad. I can't remember how long the rash last I am thinking a few days 2-3. You can get it more than once, my middle has had it 3 times.

By Kellyj on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 08:18 am:

Well the rash is gone but last night DD was throwing up. Not sure if dinner didn't set well or if there was something else going on. There was no fever. So far breakfast is staying down and she is acting normal.