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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Roseola is a generally mild infection that usually affects children by age 2. It occasionally affects adults. Roseola is extremely common — so common that most children have been infected with roseola by the time they enter kindergarten.
Two common strains of herpes viruses cause roseola. The condition typically causes several days of fever, followed by a rash.
Some children develop only a very mild case of roseola and never show any clear indication of illness, while others experience the full range of symptoms.
Roseola typically isn't serious. Rarely, complications from a very high fever can result. Treatment of roseola includes bed rest, fluids and medications to reduce fever.
- Leach CT. Roseola (human herpesviruses 6 and 7). In: Kliegman RM, et al. Kliegman: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/178982054-11/941383690/1608/665.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50255-3_5489. Accessed Jan. 21, 2010.
- Roseola infantum (human herpesvirus 6 and 7 infection). In: Habif TP. Habif: Clinical Dermatology. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00023-7--s0290&uniq=178982054&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&sid=941383690. Accessed Jan. 21, 2010.
- Fort GG, et al. Roseola. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/178982054-11/941383690/2088/578.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00027-7--sc0135_11835. Accessed Jan. 21, 2010.
- Hall CB. Human herpesviruses 6 and 7 (roseola, exanthem subitum). In: Long SS, et al., eds. Long: Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/178982054-11/941383690/1679/212.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06687-0..50211-3_3868. Accessed Jan. 21, 2010.
- Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 26, 2010.
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