Roseola: The Dreadful Rash Disease
“Roseola Infantum” is commonly known as “Roseola”. It is also known as “Exanthem Subitum” which in English means “abrupt appearance of rashes”. Children, who are between the age group of three months to four years, are susceptible to this disease. This disease is generally associated with fever that continues for two or three days and skin rashes. This disease, which is caused by virus, generally disappears within a short span of time.
“Roseola” is a highly contagious disease and can be transmitted through fluids of the throat and nose of an infected person. When a roseola infected person sneezes, laughs or coughs, the virus of this disease can spread. Skin contact can also transmit the virus of this disease from an affected person to another person.
When the symptoms of this disease become evident, it then stops spreading from an infected person.
Cause for Roseola Infantum:
Human Herpesvirus Six (HHV-6) and HHV-7 are the two prominent viruses which are the major causes of this disease. HHV-6 belongs to the herpes group but it is different from that virus which causes common cold. As this virus generally spreads through the faecal-oral route, one should wash his hand carefully after using toilet to stay away from this disease.
What Does Roseola Look Likes:
The symptoms of Roseola can be traced out very easily. In the primary stage, a high fever is one of the major signs of this disease. The temperature can rise up to 41 0 C i.e. 105 0 F. In the later stage a patient can experience coughing and irritability. Apart from that, some other common symptoms are: earache and diarrhea. The size of lymph glands grows rapidly and this is another prominent sign of this disease.
When the body temperature becomes normal, a patient may experience rashes on his skins. These skin rashes appear within three to four days of the outbreak of fever. The rashes generally have a small shape. Rashes can appear in any parts of body or it can emerge in a particular portion of the body. Legs, arms, face and neck are some of the common areas where rashes generally appear. If these rashes are touched, they change their color. These rashes usually disappear without three or four days. If a child is affected by this disease, he can suffer from mild respiratory problem. Loss of appetite and loss of weight are some of the other prominent signs of this disease.
In some rare cases, liver stops functioning properly and this can lead to many complications.
Treatment for Roseola:
The treatment of Roseola can vary depending upon the severity of symptoms and the condition of the patient. Sometimes special medical attention does not need if a patient is not facing any severe problem. By keeping the environment cool and by taking paracetamol, the high fever of patient can be reduced. Ibuprofen syrup can also do a good job in this situation.
Some other diseases such as “hepatitis”, “meningitis”, “pneumonia” and “encephalitis” may attack those who are suffering from weak immunity system. In this situation, patient should be brought under medical attention forthwith. However, most of the patients generally recover from this disease very fast without facing any serious consequences. Home treatment can also generate better result if proper guideline is maintained. When a patient is suffering from high fever, he can have sponge bath to get some comfort. Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen can be applied to bring down the temperature of the patient. Motrin and Advil are some common ibuprofens that are used widely for getting better result. A patient, who is suffering from a viral disease, must not take aspirin because this can lead to many complications. Liver failure and death can occur in this situation, if that drug is applied wrongly.
A patient ought to drink plenty of water so that he does not suffer from dehydration. If an infant is attacked by this disease, breast milk will help him/her to thwart the impact of dehydration. If the situation aggravates, one should consult with an experienced practitioner for getting better result. In some cases, diagnosis may require in order to point out the exact reason behind the emergence of Roseola. Generally, professional medical treatment is needed in order to bring down high fever.
Advice :
As it is not possible to prevent roseola in advance, proper care should be taken when the symptoms of this disease emerge.
