Roseola Infantum

   Just an update with my previous post about teething and fever. As recap, last Thursday morning, my baby suddenly had high fever ranging from 102 to around 104°F. Every 4 hours I gave him paracetamol to help lower his temperature but it only subsides for a short time and then again back to being high, this lasted for two days. The 3rd day, he woke up feeling better but still had slight fever in the afternoon and temperature went up a bit high again early Sunday morning but totally been back to normal the rest of the day. 

   We visited the doctor Thursday night, everything went fine so the doctor told us that having sudden high fever might be due to Roseola that will appear within 3-4 days after the fever. And since baby's around 9 months, it usually comes at this stage up to 2 years of age. I actually thought that it might be due to teething only since I've read that it can also be associated with high fever but this Monday morning, few pink-red rash started to appear on his skin especially on his face, neck, tummy, hands and legs.

Pink-red raised rash started on his face

Same on his right leg

   I am writing this post to share the experiences I had as a Mom through this milestone. Hope somehow, might help those Moms who will encounter this kind of situation with their baby in the future and could somehow ease your worry.

   I have made additional research and these were all the informations I had read:

   As the Mayo Clinic says, this “generally mild infection is extremely common.”

   Roseola, sometimes called Sixth Disease or baby measles, is characterized by a high fever, followed by a pink-red raised or flat rash.

   The rash often appears as the fever is breaking, covering the child’s neck, face, arms, and legs and turns white when touched, says KidsHealth a project of Nemours, dedicated to improving children’s health.

   This viral infection appears most often in between six months and two of age.

   Suffering from a high fever, often over 103 degrees Fahrenheit, from 3-6 days, the rash will arrive later lasting from a few hours to a few days.

   Along with a fever and rash, the child might also experience fatigue, irritability, decreased appetite, mild diarrhea, and swollen eyelids, says the Mayo Clinic.

   However, in severe cases a fever can cause seizures. As KidsHealth says, “The fast-rising fever that comes with roseola triggers febrile seizures (convulsions caused by high fevers) in about 10-15 percent of young children.”

   Similarly, the Mayo Clinic says, “Although frightening, fever-related seizures in otherwise healthy young children are generally short-lived and are rarely harmful.”

   I've also read that it is spread by nasal or throat droplets of those infected with roseola, this very infection is highly contagious. However, once the rash appears, it is much less contagious says the Mayo Clinic. Unlike the chickenpox or other common infections, roseola is unpreventable.

   And that unfortunately, since roseola is a virus and not a bacteria is cannot be cured with antibiotics, says the Mayo Clinic.

   Instead, the best cure is rest, increased fluid intake to prevent dehydration, and lukewarm sponge baths to ease the fever. The best liquids to serve are flat ginger ale or lemon-lime soda, water, and Gatorade or other drinks packed with electrolytes, says the Mayo Clinic.

   Most children will acquire roseola and once they catch it, the best cure is time.

SOURCE: http://www.empowher.com/relationships-family/content/roseola-or-baby-measles-what-parents-should-know

  Now I know why baby was that cranky, clingy to his Dad and irritable. Thankful above all of these things, he still was able to have a good appetite and still manage to play on his own. Such a happy fella. :) 

Evening came, rashes appeared on his tummy

Left hand

He was sleeping when I was writing this post :)

Just woke up, hello there! I'm doing great! :)

   Glad the fever's over. As read, in a couple of days, this rash will go away. Somewhat, I felt a sense of relief knowing it was just roseola. Thanks be to God!

"Sending you more hugs and kisses to let you know how much you are loved..."


31 July 2014

Just an update: The rashes were almost clear by Wednesday and then by Thursday all gone.  So with the case of my baby, roseola lasted for around one week from the day the fever had started.