Roseola Dr Trisha Macnair Roseola, sometimes called roseola infantum, is a common viral infection in early childhood. Symptoms can cause discomfort but most children recover quickly.

In this article

What's the cause? Who's affected?

What are the symptoms? What's the treatment?

Roseola is caused by human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6). This is one of the herpes group of viruses but not the same one that causes cold sores.

The virus is spread through the faecal-oral route (poor hygiene after using the toilet) or by airborne droplets. Careful handwashing can help prevent its spread.

Occasionally other viruses cause an illness very similar to roseola.

The infection commonly occurs between the ages of three months to four years, and particularly between six months and a year. Most children have had the illness by the age of two.

There are several stages to the infection. First, there's an incubation period of five to 15 days, after which symptoms begin abruptly with a sudden rise in temperature - as high as 39 to 41°C (102 to 105°F).

The child may appear quite well apart from this, but some children have other symptoms such as diarrhoea, cough, earache, irritability and enlarged lymph glands. Febrile convulsions may be triggered by the fever.

After about four days the temperature returns to normal but a rash appears. This is typically a fine rash of tiny, pink spots over the head and trunk. This clears after about three days.

Roseola is usually diagnosed from the history and symptoms, especially if the infection has recently been reported in the community.

No specific treatment is needed but steps should be taken to reduce the fever and make the child more comfortable, by keeping the environment cool and administering paracetamol or ibuprofen syrup.

Most children recover quickly and complications are very rare. Occasionally, encephalitis (infection of the brain), meningitis (infection of the membranes around the brain), hepatitis (infection of the liver) or pneumonia may occur, especially in children who have problems with their immune system. Hospital treatment may then be necessary.

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Orlena Kerek in March 2009