Sixth disease, also known as Roseola Infantum, is a disease commonly seen in children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. It is rarely seen in older children and adults.
What is Sixth Disease?
Sixth disease is an infection caused by the Herpes virus that affects children under 2 years old. It is a common and contagious disease. It is not clinically severe and with good care, children recover quickly.
What are the Symptoms of Sixth Disease?
- The most common symptoms of sixth disease are a sudden onset of fever and subsequent skin
- Fever is considered high if the body temperature is between 38.8-40.5 °C. This rising fever usually lasts for 3-7 days.
- Rarely, seizures may occur due to very high fever. In this case, the child may faint for a short time. His arms and legs may jerk. In addition to these, the control of the bladder and bowels of the child may not be possible temporarily.
- Seizures are rare and mild.
- The rash, on the other hand, usually manifests itself within 12 to 24 hours after the fever subsides.
- The skin rash may be pink in color, flat or raised.
- 6. The disease rash usually spreads from the abdomen to the face, arms and legs. These spreading redness and rashes indicate the end of the course of the disease.
Other symptoms in the sixth disease:
- Mountness
- Swelling of the eyelids
- Pain in the ear
- Low appetite
- Mild diarrhea
- In the throat pain or mild cough.
When Do Symptoms Start in Sixth Disease?
Symptoms appear within 5 to 15 days. Some children may not have symptoms.
What are the Differences Between Sixth Disease and Measles?
Sometimes the skin rash of sixth disease is confused with the skin rash seen in measles. In fact, the rashes of these two diseases are clearly different from each other.
Measles rash is red or reddish brown It is possible. It usually starts in the face area and spreads to the lower parts of the body. Finally, it covers the entire body with bumpy patches.
The sixth disease rash is pink in color, typically beginning in the abdomen before spreading to the face, arms and legs. The child with the sixth disease feels better than the child with measles. Sixth disease is a mild disease.
What are the Complications of Sixth Disease?
· Fever attacks Complications arising from sixth disease are rare. Fever attacks may occur, albeit very rarely. In general, the majority of children and adults recover quickly and completely from sixth disease. Weak immune system Sixth disease is of greater concern in people with compromised immune systems, such as those who have recently had a bone marrow or organ transplant operation. They may get a new sixth disease infection, or a previous infection may come back because their immune system is weakened. These individuals are typically less resistant to viruses and tend to be more severe cases of infection. As a result, their processes are more challenging when battling diseases. People with weakened immune systems and those who come into contact with sixth disease are potentially at risk of serious complications from infections such as pneumonia or encephalitis. Sixth Disease in Adults Although rare, an adult may not have had sixth disease as a child. In this case, they may have a chance of not getting the sixth disease throughout their lives. If they are caught, they typically get over the disease milder. However, they can be carriers and transmit the infection to children nearby.
What are the Risk Factors for Sixth Disease?
The antibodies that babies receive from their mothers before they are born are useful in defending themselves against infections such as sixth disease when they are born. However, this immunity diminishes over time. Therefore, older babies do not have enough time to develop their own antibodies against many viruses. The most common age range for a child to get the sixth disease virus is 6 to 15 months.
What Causes Sixth Disease?
Sixth disease is most often caused by the human herpes virus (HHV) type 6. In addition, human herpes virus type 7 is also the cause of the disease. The answer to the question 'Is the sixth disease contagious?' is "Yes". As with other viruses, the sixth disease is also transmitted; coughing, speaking or sneezing, that is, with small liquid droplets. The incubation period for the sixth disease is almost 14 days. This is enough time for a child with the virus to easily transmit the infection to another child. Sixth disease outbreak can occur at any time of the year.
Your doctor suspects sixth disease because of clear symptoms of your child in the form of high fever and rash. It usually does not need laboratory tests. If your child develops other symptoms or if the disease becomes severe, blood or urine tests may be needed.
How to Diagnose Sixth Disease?
Your doctor shows a high fever and rash that your child shows He suspects sixth disease because of clear symptoms. It usually does not require laboratory tests. If your child develops other symptoms or if the disease becomes severe, blood or urine tests may be needed.
How is Sixth Disease Treated?
· In Children The sixth disease is usually a self-limiting disease and there is no specific treatment. Antibiotics are not used in the treatment because the disease is caused by a virus. Therefore, treatment is aimed at alleviating the severity of symptoms. Commonly used antipyretics in children can be used to reduce high fever. It is important to give children with sixth illness adequate fluids to avoid dehydration. In children or adults with a weakened immune system, doctors may prescribe an antiviral medication to treat sixth illness .· Warm bath and peeling will help the child to reduce the fever.
Recovery Period in Sixth Illness
The child is cured when there is no fever for at least 24 hours and other symptoms have disappeared she is accepted and she can return to her normal life. Call your doctor if the following conditions develop: · Your child has a fever of 39, If it is higher than 4°C If your child has a fever due to sixth illness for more than seven days If the rash does not return to normal after three days If someone in the household has a sixth illness, it is important to wash their hands frequently to prevent transmission of the disease. In general, most children recover within a week of the onset of fever. By school age, most children have developed antibodies to sixth disease, giving them immunity to a recurrent infection.
Can the Sixth Disease Be Prevented?
There is no vaccine to prevent the sixth disease. However, the most appropriate approach to prevent the spread of this disease is not to come into contact with the infected child.
· If your child has a sixth illness, separate them from their home and other children until the fever subsides. The most basic way to overcome viral diseases and protect ourselves from these diseases is to pay attention to hygiene and distance. Infected individuals cannot be detected visually. For this reason, it is essential to keep the distance. Hand hygiene is a key way to destroy viruses. You should not ignore the powerful purifying effect of water and soap. In addition to all these, since the immune system is the soldier of our body, you should support the defense with a healthy diet, regular exercise and quality sleep. To reach us, you can use the contact form on our website or call 444 0436.
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