Roseola in Emergency Medicine

Roseola infantum is the sixth of the traditional exanthems of childhood. The condition is an acute benign disease of childhood classically characterized by a history of a prodromal febrile illness lasting approximately 3 days, followed by defervescence and the appearance of a faint pink maculopapular rash.

Since identification of the etiologic agent human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6), infection has been documented without the characteristic fever or rash. The virus may present as an acute 3-7 day febrile illness (characteristically >39.5 º C) associated with respiratory or gastrointestinal symptomatology. In one prospective cohort, 93% of newly acquired infections were symptomatic, with fever, fussiness, diarrhea, and rash as the most distinguishing features.