| disease | Roseola Infantum |
| alias | Exanthema Subitum, Roseola Infantum |
Exanthema Subitum, also known as roseola infantum, is an acute benign rose-like rash in infants and young children, characterized by the appearance of a rash after the fever subsides.
bubble_chart Etiology
It may be related to viruses, and some believe it is caused by coxsackievirus B5. However, there is a lack of definitive evidence.
bubble_chart Clinical Manifestations
This disease mostly occurs in children under 2 years old and is more common in winter. The incubation period is 10 to 15 days. It presents with sudden high fever without prodromal symptoms, with temperatures reaching 39–40°C. After 3 to 5 days, the temperature drops abruptly, and at the same time, pale red millet-sized maculopapular rashes appear, scattered in distribution, with a few rashes merging into patches. The rashes fully develop within 24 hours, and after 1 to 2 days, they subside without leaving any marks. They are usually seen on the neck, upper trunk, face, and limbs, but generally do not appear on the cheeks, below the knees, or the palms and soles. Systemic symptoms are mild, and the child's overall condition remains relatively good. Apart from high fever and poor appetite, a few children may experience fatigue, nausea, cervical lymphadenopathy, and convulsions during the febrile period.
bubble_chart Auxiliary Examination
In the initial 1-2 days of the illness, leukocytes increase, but in the late stage [third stage], leukocytes decrease, especially with very low polymorphonuclear neutrophils, while lymphocytes increase, potentially reaching 70-90%. After the fever subsides, the white blood cell count returns to normal within a few days.
Children under 2 years old, with sudden high fever without rash, but rash appears when the fever subsides, can be diagnosed with this disease.bubble_chart Treatment Measures
Symptomatic treatment.
(1) Measles: Severe upper respiratory catarrhal symptoms, Koplik's spots on the oral mucosa in the early stage of the disease, and rash and fever can coexist.
(2) Rubella: Fever occurs 6-24 hours before the eruption, high fever coincides with the rash, and swelling of the posterior cervical and occipital lymph nodes.
(3) Drug rash: History of medication use, peripheral blood lymphocytes are not elevated.
