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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffMake an appointment with your child's doctor if your child has a rash that doesn't improve after a few days, or if your child has a fever that lasts more than a week or exceeds 103 F (39.4 C).
Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
Information to gather in advance
- List your child's signs and symptoms, and for how long your child has had them.
- Write down your child's key medical information, including other conditions for which your child has been treated and any prescription or over-the-counter medications your child has recently taken.
- List any possible sources of infection, such as other children who've recently had a high fever or a rash.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor. Creating your list of questions in advance can help you make the most of your time with your doctor.
Below are some basic questions to ask your doctor about roseola. If any additional questions occur to you during your visit, don't hesitate to ask.
- What is the most likely cause of my child's signs and symptoms?
- Are there any other possible causes?
- Should I treat my child's fever?
- What over-the-counter fever medications are safe for my child, if any?
- What else can I do to help my child recover?
- How soon do you expect my child's symptoms to improve?
- Is my child contagious? For how long?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to talk about in-depth. Your doctor may ask:
- What are your child's signs and symptoms?
- When did you first notice these signs and symptoms?
- Have your child's signs and symptoms gotten better or worse over time?
- Have any children with whom your child interacts had a recent high fever or a rash?
- Has your child had a fever? How high?
- Has your child had diarrhea?
- Has your child continued to eat and drink?
- Have you tried any at-home treatments? Has anything helped?
- Has your baby recently had any other medical conditions?
- Has your baby recently taken any new medications?
- Is your child in child care?
- What else concerns you?
What you can do in the meantime
In the time leading up to your appointment, encourage your child to rest and drink fluids. You may be able to ease fever-related discomfort with a lukewarm sponge bath or cool compresses. Ask your doctor whether over-the-counter fever medications are safe for your child.
- 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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