The main symptoms of pink roseola in an infant
Roseola is a viral disease accompanied by a three-day fever and rash. The disease is most often diagnosed in children under the age of two. The symptoms of pink roseola in an infant are easily confused with rubella, allergies, and SARS. Quite often, roseola is called infantile fever, sudden exanthema, pseudorubella. The disease is transmitted by airborne and household means (through objects used by the patient).
How long is the incubation period of roseola
The causative agent of the disease is the herpes virus of the sixth type, which, getting on the skin and tissues, damages them. Entering into a reaction with immune cells, the pathogen provokes the appearance of a characteristic rash. In adults, this virus causes chronic fatigue syndrome, and in children under the age of three, sudden exanthema. How long is the incubation period of roseola? - 3-7 days. Although there are cases when the incubation period reaches 15 days.
Pseudorubella is most often diagnosed in the spring-autumn period.
Symptoms of viral exanthema in children
The initial manifestation of the disease is a slight malaise, after which the main symptoms join:
- high temperature for three days (38-39 degrees);
- lack of appetite;
- increased drowsiness;
- appearance of rashes with localization on the stomach, back and chest;
- enlargement of ear and neck lymph nodes;
- enlargement of the liver, convulsions (not always).
Important: a characteristic feature of viral exanthema in children is the absence of rashes on the legs and arms.
In the blood of the baby at the height of the disease, there is an increase in lymphocytes and a decrease in the number of leukocytes.
What does a child's roseola rash look like
The rash in children's fever is very similar to rubella. Small pimples of pale pink color do not itch and do not cause unpleasant sensations. Localization of rashes - back, stomach and chest of the child. They are not contagious and pass, as a rule, within five days. The doctor will tell you more about what a child's roseola rash looks like during the consultation.
Please note that with pseudorubella, the baby does not have a cough, runny nose and other symptoms characteristic of ARVI.
Additional symptoms:- swelling and redness of the eyelids;
- increase of individual lymph nodes;
- slight swelling of mucous membranes;
- increased drowsiness.
Body temperature with roseola disease lasts no more than three days, after which a period of abundant rashes begins. Rash of irregular shape, light pink color. When pressed, pimples acquire a whitish tint. The islets of the rash do not merge with each other.
On our website Dobrobut.com, you can make an appointment with a doctor who will tell you about the differences between syphilitic roseola spots in adults and skin manifestations of pseudorubella. In the center you can undergo a complete examination of the body.
Differential diagnosis of exanthema
Doctors often confuse roseola with allergic reactions to drugs, rubella or enterovirus infection. In addition to a general examination of the baby and taking an anamnesis, the pediatrician will prescribe a blood test. Serological diagnosis is used extremely rarely.
What does a child's roseola rash look like:
- rash appears on the third day of elevated temperature;
- they do not cause unpleasant sensations and do not itch;
- the baby's face remains clean.
It is important to make a differential diagnosis of exanthema, because further therapy depends on it. The course of treatment is prescribed taking into account the general condition of the baby and the scale of clinical manifestations.
The doctor will help you learn the difference between infectious exanthema and similar diseases during the appointment.
Treatment
Treatment of children's roseola is mainly symptomatic. The main thing is to lower the temperature and reduce the intoxication of the body.
How to treat a sudden exanthema - apply:
- antipyretic drugs (nurofen, paracetamol);
- antivirals (prescribed to weakened children according to individual indications);
- vasoconstricting drops (for swelling of the mucous throat and nose);
- vitamin complexes.
Regardless of the cause of roseola disease, it is necessary to create the most comfortable conditions for the child: remove all sources of noise, ventilate the room well, maintain the temperature in the room no higher than 20 degrees. In addition, do not forget about abundant drinking, including saline solutions, easy-to-digest food and bed rest.
Important: parents need to control the temperature and prevent it from rising. If the temperature is above 38 degrees, the child may have febrile convulsions. Predictors of seizures: cold hands and feet; pale skin; trembling legs, hands and chin.
Complications, prognosis and prevention of the disease
In most cases, the prognosis is favorable. If you follow all the doctor's recommendations, roseola passes within 7 days without complications. In severe cases, the disease can be complicated by febrile convulsions, bronchitis, otitis and pneumonia (on the background of reduced immunity).
Prevention. It is extremely difficult to prevent herpes infection. Strengthening the baby's immunity (full rest, walks in the fresh air, proper nutrition, active games) and cleanliness in the children's room (wet cleaning once every three days) will be a good prevention.
If you have any doubts, make an appointment for a consultation by phone or fill out the form on the website. How is the roseola virus transmitted, what should be done if the disease is suspected - all questions will be answered by the doctor during the consultation.