Roseola (roe-zee-OH-lah) is a viral infection that mostly affects children 6 months to 2 years old. It causes a high fever followed by a rash when the fever breaks. The infection usually gets better in about a week. Here are some ways to keep your child comfortable and hydrated.

• If your child is uncomfortable from fever, and your health care provider says it's OK, you can give medicines such as:
  • acetaminophen (such as Tylenol^® or a store brand)
    
  • ibuprofen (such as Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand). Don't give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old.
• Do not give aspirin to your child. It could lead to a rare but serious medical condition called Reye syndrome.
• It is OK if your child does not want to eat much while sick.
• To prevent dehydration, offer your child plenty of fluids.
• Encourage all family members to wash their hands well and often to prevent spreading the virus.
• Your child should stay home until the fever is gone for 24 hours without using a fever-reducing medicine. After the rash breaks out, your child is no longer contagious and may go to school or childcare.

Your child:

• is extremely tired or seems weak
• is not drinking
• has a fever that lasts for 5 days
• has a new rash, or has changes in the rash 

Your child:

• becomes very fussy and cannot be consoled
• seems to have pain or stiffness when moving the neck
• seems dehydrated; signs include a dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, crying with few or no tears, peeing less often (or having fewer wet diapers)
• has a seizure

What happens with roseola? Roseola (also known as sixth disease, exanthem subitum, and roseola infantum) begins with a high fever — often over 103°F (39.4°C) — that lasts for 3–5 days. When the fever goes away, a pinkish-red rash starts on the trunk that can last up to 3 days. The rash often spreads to the neck, face, arms, and legs.

Can roseola cause other symptoms? Many children with roseola get swollen lymph nodes (glands) in the neck and lose their appetite; some have cold symptoms and are fussy. A few children may have febrile seizures (convulsions caused by a high temperature) during the fever phase.

Can roseola spread to others? Yes. Because roseola is caused by a virus, it can be contagious. It is not contagious by the time the rash breaks out.