Symptoms of roseola

Roseola doesn't always cause noticeable symptoms. If they do develop, they'll usually start a week or two after becoming infected.

Fever

At first, your child may have:

  • a suddenhigh temperature (fever) ofover 37.5C (99.5F) find out how to take your child's temperature
  • a Strep throat
  • a runny nose
  • a cough
  • mild diarrhoea
  • loss of appetite
  • swollen eyelids and swollen glands in their neck

These symptoms typically last three to five days,at which point a rash often appears.

Some children also have fits (seizures)known as febrile seizures . These can be frightening, but are usually harmless.

Rash

The roseola rash usually appears once the fever has gone down.

The rash:

  • is made up of pinkish-red spots, patches or bumps these should fade if you roll a glass over them
  • tends to start on the chest, tummy and back, before spreading to the face, neck and arms
  • isn't usually itchy or uncomfortable
  • normallyfades and disappears within two days

It canbe difficult to tell the rash apart fromsimilar childhoodinfections, such as measles , rubella or scarlet fever .

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018