Roseola

Roseola is a viral infection that mostly affects infants younger than the age of 2. It is distinguished by a high fever for a few days that ends with the appearance of a rash.

Symptoms

Difficulty breathing
Extremely high fever (>39.5)
Swollen lymph nodes
Pink rash that turns white when touched
Some kids can have seizures

Contagiousness

Roseola is extremely contagious through oral and nasal contact. If a child touches an infected surface before touching his mouth or nose, he will get infected. It is only contagious during the fever period and not the rash period. The fever lasts from 3 days to a week. The rash can last a few days, usually less than a week.

Treatment

It is extremely important to not give your child aspirin as this can cause him to develop the Reye syndrome, which causes liver failure and death. Panadol and Advil can help decrease the fever. Drinking fluids is important to avoid dehydration.