My child has a spotty, pinkish-red rash on his/her abdomen. Could it be sixth disease?
If your child has recently had a high fever and has a spotty, raised or flat, pink rash after the fever subsides. If present, it may be a roseola infection, also calledroseola infantum or sixth disease.
Sixth disease is a fairly mild disease that usually affects children between the ages of 3 months and 4 years. It is a common viral disease. It is caused by one of the types of herpes virus. This type of herpes virus is different from the type that causes herpes and genital infections.
What are the symptoms of herpes virus?
It is possible for a child to have the virus without being ill, but roseola usually occurs suddenly and with a relatively high fever. It starts with (38-40 C). The fever typically lasts three to seven days and may end suddenly, followed by a sudden-onset skin rash.
The rash may last for days or just a few hours. There may be pink and small flat spots or bumps. These spots may have a lighter “ring” around them and turn white when you press on them. Sixth disease rashes are red, not itchy or irritating, and contact with the rash does not cause transmission of the disease. It usually occurs on the trunk and neck, but can extend to the arms, legs, and face.
Symptoms of sixth disease may include:
- Nervousness
- Drowsiness
- Mild diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Mild Swollen eyelids
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or base of the skull
When children have sixth disease, the fever can become very high early in the disease. This may increase the risk of febrile seizures. If they have a febrile seizureand you are at home, place your child on the bed or on the floor and turn their head to the side to reduce the chance of any vomiting or saliva getting into their lungs. Your child may become unconscious and shake his arms, legs, or facial muscles for two or three minutes. They may also lose control of their bladder or bowels.
Although fever-related seizures in young children can be frightening for parents to watch, they are rarely serious or harmful. However, it is important to take your child to the hospital as soon as possible after a seizure. Also, if possible, try to observe how long the attack lasts, because the doctor will want to know the duration during the examination.
Sixth Disease Treatment
Sixth disease agent, human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) spreads from person to person through respiratory secretions. You should make sure you wash your child's hands often and thoroughly to reduce the chance of them becoming infected. There is no specific treatment for roseola and it usually passes without causing any complications.
If your child's fever bothers him and remains high, you can ask your doctor about giving antipyretics.
Sixth Disease Again. Does it?
Similar symptoms are also associated with another herpesvirus infection caused by human herpesvirus (HHV-7). Many children infected with HHV-7 have only mild disease. HHV-7 may be responsible for second or recurrent cases of sixth disease originally caused by HHV-6. Like all viruses in the herpes family, these viruses will remain in the body for life.
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