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| Division of Public Health Services Disease Handbook for Childcare Providers | |
| Bureau of Infectious Disease Control REVISED –January 2018 | |
| ROSEOLA (Exanthema Subitum) | |
| Roseola is the most common viral rash illness that | |
| occurs in young children. It is sometimes referred | |
| to as Sixth Disease or, less commonly, “baby | |
| measles”. Roseola is caused by a virus called | |
| human herpesvirus 6 (HHV -6) an d, possibly, | |
| human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7). | |
| Who gets this disease? | |
| Roseola usually occurs in children aged 6 months | |
| to 2 years of age. It is uncommon for the disease | |
| to occur in children under the age of 3 months or | |
| over the age of 4 years. There is no known risk to | |
| pregnant women. Cases are not seasonal and | |
| usually occur throughout the year. | |
| How is Roseola spread? | |
| Humans are the only known source for roseola. It | |
| is not known how the disease is spread or what | |
| the infectious period is. It is not conside red to be | |
| very infectious. | |
| How soon do symptoms appear? | |
| Symptoms usually begin 4- 10 days after | |
| exposure. | |
| What are the symptoms? | |
| Roseola usually begins with a high fever that lasts | |
| 3 to 5 days followed by a rash that lasts 1- 2 days. | |
| When the fever disappears, a rash appears, usually | |
| on the face and body. Irritability, runny nose, | |
| eyelid swelling and tiredness are sometimes | |
| present during the time of the fever. Most | |
| children, however, are alert and playful during | |
| this time. | |
| How is it diagnosed and treated? | |
| While Roseola can be diagnosed through | |
| laboratory conformation, a healthcare provider | |
| typically diagnoses the disease based on the | |
| symptoms. A rash occurring immediately after | |
| the fever breaks is characteristic of the disease. | |
| The healthcare provider may recommend | |
| supportive treatment of symptoms but there is no | |
| treatment that is specific for roseola. | |
| How can the spread of this disease be | |
| prevented? | |
| There is no vaccine to prevent this disease, but | |
| good hand washing can help prevent the spread. | |
| Who should be excluded? | |
| Generally, a child with a rash and fever should be | |
| excluded from childcare until seen by a healthcare | |
| provider. A child with a rash and no fever may | |
| return to childcare. There are no | |
| recommendations for preventive therapy for other | |
| children attending the childcare or for childcare | |
| personnel. | |
| Reportable? | |
| No. Roseola is not reportable by New Hampshire | |
| state law to the Division of Public Health | |
| Services, Bureau of Infectious Disease Control. | |
| However, Public Health Professionals are | |
| available for consultation at (603) 271-4496. | |