| Roseola | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
Electron micrograph of HHV-6 |
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| ICD-10 | B08.2 |
| ICD-9 | 057.8 |
| DiseasesDB | 5857 |
| MedlinePlus | 000968 |
| eMedicine | emerg/400 derm/378 ped/998 |
| MeSH | D005077 |
Exanthema subitum (meaning sudden rash), also referred to as roseola infantum (or rose rash of infants), sixth disease (as the sixth rash-causing childhood disease) and (confusingly) baby measles, or three-day fever, is a disease of children, generally under two years old,[1] although it has been known to occur in eighteen year olds, whose manifestations are usually limited to a transient rash ("exanthem") that occurs following a fever of about three day's duration.
It is frequently called roseola, although this term could be applied to any rose-colored rash.[2]
Until recently, its origin was unknown, but it is now known to be caused by two human herpesviruses, HHV-6 (Human herpesvirus 6) and HHV-7, which are sometimes referred to collectively as Roseolovirus. There are two variants of HHV-6 and studies in the US, Europe and Japan have shown that exanthema subitum is caused by HHV-6B which infects over 90% of infants by age 2. Current research indicates that babies congenitally infected with the HHV-6A virus can have inherited the virus on a chromosome.[3]
Contents |
Typically the disease affects a child between six months and two years of age, and begins with a sudden high fever (39–40 °C; 102.2-104 °F). This can cause, in rare cases, febrile convulsions (also known as febrile seizures or "fever fits") due to the sudden rise in body temperature, but in many cases the child appears normal. After a few days the fever subsides, and just as the child appears to be recovering, a red rash appears. This usually begins on the trunk, spreading to the legs and neck. The rash is not itchy and may last 1 to 2 days.[4] In contrast, a child suffering from measles would usually appear more infirm, with symptoms of conjunctivitis, coryza and a cough, and their rash would affect the face and last for several days. Liver dysfunction can occur in rare cases.
The rare adult reactivates with HHV-6 and can show signs of mononucleosis.[5]
There is no specific vaccine against or treatment for exanthema subitum, and most children with the disease are not seriously ill. A child with fever should be given plenty of fluids to drink. Paracetamol/acetaminophen or ibuprofen could be given to reduce their temperature (but never aspirin, due to the risk of Reye's Syndrome[6]).
It is likely that many children acquire exanthema subitum "subclinically"; in other words, they show no outward sign of the disease. Others may be debilitated enough that a doctor's opinion is required to confirm the diagnosis, and particularly to rule out other more serious infections, such as meningitis or measles. In case of febrile seizures, medical advice is essential.
| Belgium | Driedagenkoorts "three-day fever" or zesde ziekte "sixth disease" (Dutch) - "Roséole" (French) |
| Finland | Vauvarokko "baby measles" (Finnish) |
| Germany | Dreitagefieber "three-day fever" (German) |
| Greece | Αιφνίδιο εξάνθημα "sudden rash" (Greek) |
| Iceland | Mislingabróðir "measles' brother" (Icelandic) |
| Italy | Sesta malattia "sixth disease" (Italian) |
| Norway | Fjerde barnesykdom "fourth disease" (Norwegian)[7] |
| Philippines | Tigdas Hangin "wind measles" (Tagalog) |
| Poland | Trzydniowa goraczka "three-day fever" (Polish) |
| Singapore/Malaysia | Jia3 Ma2 假麻 "false measles" (Chinese) |
| Turkey | Altıncı hastalık "sixth disease" (Turkish) |
| Israel | Adamdemet אדמדמת (Hebrew) |
| Vietnam | Sốt phát ban "baby rash" (Vietnamese) |
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