A Family Doctor's Tale - ROSEOLA INFANTUM

DOC I HAVE ROSEOLA INFANTUM

Roseola Infantum is usually a contagious childhood infection caused by the Roseola Infantum virus.

It is also known as "false measles" because of the appearance of its rashes which appear from the face and spread down to the legs and fever.


It is characterized by typical prodromal symptoms of fever, runny nose , cough, generalised rash and cervical lymphadenopathy

Any one at any age can contract Roseola Infantum but it usually occurs before the age of 2 years old because by that time most of the children has immunity to the virus.

Spread is usually by infected persons either from mucous discharges from their coughing and sneezing, or from contact with their skin rash,contaminated items and surfaces.

Usually a  person is contagious for about two days before symptoms appear, and up to five days after appearance of the rash.

There is a prodromal peroid of 5 to 7 days after contact with a infected person.


Early symptoms include:
1.high fever


2.coughing,


3.runny nose, stuffy nose,


4.tiredness,


5.red eyes, tearing. ,


6.Roseola Infantum rash usually occurs after the onset of fever.
The rash is typically red,maculopapular, and starts from behind the ears and face, then spreads downward to the neck, trunk, limbs, palms and soles.

The rash begins to fade in about four days .

There may be a brownish discoloration in areas of affected skin rahes but this is only temporary.


7. enlarged lymph glands may be felt in the neck and groins


8.inflammation of the eyes (conjunctivitis) with tearing may also occurs.


9. diarrhoea and vomiting may occurs in some patients.


Children who have had Roseola Infantum develop a natural immunity and cannot contract it again.

Complications are rare and include:

1.Ear infection (Otitis Media) is a common complication of Roseola Infantum.


2.pneumonia in very young children may be dangerous.


3.encephalitis (brain infection)may occur in rare cases

There is no cure for Roseola Infantum.

Treatment is therefore symptomatic.
1.Fever symptoms are treated with acetaminophen (Paracetamol).


Children should not be given aspirin due to the risk of Reye's Syndrome which affects the brain


2.Itch may be controlled by antihistamines which can also help to relieve the runny nose.


3.Antibiotics may be given if there is superimposed secondary bacterial infection such as otitis emdia and pneumonia..


4.Cough mixtures may be given to relieve the cough.


5.Plenty of bed rest is necessary.


6.Lots of fluids helps to prevent dehydration.


Most patients recover completely from Roseola Infantum.