What temperature constitutes a high fever in baby roseola?

Written by Yan Xin Liang

Pediatrics

Updated on March 21, 2025

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Roseola infantum is an acute febrile exanthematous disease caused by human herpesvirus type 6 or 7. Its characteristic is that after 3-5 days of fever, the body temperature suddenly drops, and rose-pink maculopapular rashes appear on the skin. The condition then improves, and if there are no complications, recovery can be swift.

Thus, in the early stages of roseola infantum, high fever predominates, generally reaching temperatures around 39 degrees Celsius, or even exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. During the initial high fever, febrile convulsions can occur. Some patients may experience nausea, vomiting, coughing, and drowsiness, while others may exhibit symptoms like diarrhea and swollen, congested tonsils.

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Written by Gong Hui

Pediatrics

40sec

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What age do children typically get roseola?

Exanthem subitum in infants is a viral infectious disease caused by human herpesvirus type 6 and type 7. Newborns initially acquire protective antibodies from their mothers. Generally, after five to six months, as antibody levels decrease, the likelihood of contracting a virus such as human herpesvirus increases. The peak age for contracting exanthem subitum is between six months and two years, although this can vary. Children aged three to four, who have not contracted exanthem subitum or the human herpesvirus before the age of two, can still contract the disease.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan

Neonatology

1min 33sec

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How should one handle roseola in toddlers?

Infantile roseola is a common febrile rash illness in infants, the main manifestation of which is high fever lasting for three to five days. When the fever subsides, a maculopapular rash appears on the skin. During the illness, it is important to ensure that the room is well-ventilated and to avoid taking the child to crowded places to prevent worsening of the condition due to cross-infection. Additionally, if the child has a high fever or feels unwell, appropriate fever-reducing treatments should be given. If physical cooling is not effective, suitable antipyretic medicine should be administered. Also, the child should not wear too many clothes or be covered with thick blankets during the fever to avoid impairing heat dissipation. If the child sweats a lot when the fever subsides, be sure to change their clothes promptly to prevent catching cold. During the illness, the child should drink plenty of water, preferably warm. As for diet, it is important to consume light and easily digestible food and properly supplement with vitamin C. If breastfeeding, the mother should be cautious not to consume spicy and greasy food since the baby's gastrointestinal tract is relatively weak during illness. If the mother's diet is too spicy or greasy, it could potentially exacerbate the baby's gastrointestinal burden, leading to diarrhea or vomiting.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang

Pediatrics

1min 5sec

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How to deal with baby roseola

For the nursing methods of infantile sudden rash, it is important to note that first, the child should drink more water to replenish sufficient fluids. The initial symptom of infantile sudden rash is fever, but too high a body temperature can cause excessive loss of water in the baby, and drinking more water not only replenishes fluids but also helps to reduce fever, Secondly, physical cooling should be used. During periods of high fever, physical cooling methods such as using cold packs or warm water baths should be employed to help reduce the child's body temperature while maintaining cleanliness and hygiene, During the child's visit to the clinic, it is necessary to keep the indoor environment ventilated and clean, bathe the baby in a timely manner, and keeping the skin fresh is also beneficial for eliminating toxins. Additionally, a healthy diet is crucial during the emergency period; although the baby might not show abnormalities, attention must be paid to the diet, especially for breastfed babies, where the mother herself must ensure a healthy and nutritious diet.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang

Pediatrics

1min 14sec

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What to do with sudden rash in toddlers?

Roseola in infants is an acute febrile infectious disease caused by human herpesvirus type 6 or type 7. During the acute phase, this disease often presents with a sudden high fever, with temperatures reaching up to 39°C (102.2°F), and even exceeding 40°C (104°F). The fever usually lasts for 3-5 days. During this time, it is important to monitor the baby's temperature closely. If a high fever occurs, timely antipyretic treatment should be administered to prevent potential high fever convulsions. Attention should also be given to the baby's mental response; if the baby appears lethargic and the fever persists, symptomatic treatment should be provided promptly. It is also crucial to be vigilant for any potential complications. Most children with roseola will develop a rash after 3-5 days of fever, which lasts about two days. If there are no complications, they can generally recover. Therefore, there is no need to be overly anxious if a child contracts roseola, as it is a self-limiting disease that typically resolves within 5-7 days.

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Written by Yao Li Qin

Pediatrics

1min 28sec

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Early signs of rash in toddlers

Roseola infantum is a common pediatric febrile rash disease caused by viral infection. There are no specific warning signs before the rash appears in roseola. If it is roseola, the child will definitely have a fever for 3-4 days, followed by the disappearance of the fever as the rash appears. However, one characteristic of children with roseola in emergency situations is that although they have a persistent high fever, as long as their temperature drops below 38.5°C, they generally remain in good spirits and usually do not show other symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, or coughing. This means that if a child between four months and two years old suddenly develops a fever and maintains good spirits, and the fever persists for almost two to three days without subsiding, we need to be highly alert to the possibility of roseola. At this point, parents should not panic; just wait it out for over 72 hours. If the child's temperature suddenly drops and a rash appears, this confirms roseola. If this rash does not appear, then it is not roseola. This means that there aren't any specific symptoms to look for before the rash in roseola; the diagnosis is mainly based on clinical presentation and the doctor's clinical experience.