Roseola is a common viral infection involving a high fever and often a rash, which usually occurs before the age of 3. Until the early 1900s, roseola was not recognized as a separate disease and was assumed to be a type of measles, often called baby measles. Because of the rash, roseola still is easily mistaken for measles.
Fever
Nearly all children become infected with the virus that causes roseola, but most do not ever get a rash. The most common symptom is a sudden , often 103°F or higher, which takes three to seven days to subside.
Flu-like Symptoms
Some children with roseola also develop a sore throat, runny nose, cough and swollen glands with the fever.
Rash
After the fever subsides, some children develop a non-itchy rash within a day or two. The rash has many small flat pink spots, or sometimes raised spots. The rash usually appears on the chest, back and abdomen, and may spread to the neck, arms, legs and face. It can last for several days.
Additional Symptoms
Additional possible signs of roseola include fatigue, irritability, lack of appetite, mild diarrhea, and swollen eyelids.
Seizures
Because of the high fever, a small number of children have a full-body seizure. The seizures are called febrile seizures, and are typically harmless.
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