Roseola
Basics
Omnipresent infection occurring in infancy and childhood. Majority of cases are caused by human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6); may be associated with other diseases including encephalitis
Description
- Acute infection of infants or very young children (1)
- Causes a high fever followed by a skin eruption as the fever resolves (1)
- Transmission via contact with salivary secretions or respiratory droplet (1)
- Incubation period of 9 to 10 days (1)
- System(s) affected: skin/exocrine, metabolic, gastrointestinal, respiratory, neurologic
- Synonym(s): roseola infantum, exanthem subitum; pseudorubella; sixth disease; 3-day fever (1)
Pediatric Considerations
A disease of infants and very young children (2)
Epidemiology
- Predominant age
- Predominant sex: male = female (1)
- No seasonal variance
Incidence
Common—accounts for 20% ED visits for febrile illness among children 6 to 8 months (4)
Prevalence
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- HHV-6 and HHV-7 (2)
- Majority of cases (60–74%) due to HHV-6
- Primary infection typically through respiratory droplets or saliva
- Congenital infection/vertical transmission occurs in 1% of cases (1).
- Transplacental transmission
- Chromosomal integration (clinical significance unknown)
- Lifelong latent or persistent asymptomatic infection occurs after primary infection (1).
Genetics
HHV-6 is integrated into the chromosomes of 0.2–3.0% of the population. This leads to vertical transmission of the virus. Clinical significance of this is unknown (1).
Risk Factors
- Female gender (3)
- Having older siblings (3)
- At-risk adults: immunocompromised (5)
- Nonrisk factors (3)
- Child care attendance
- Method of delivery
- Breastfeeding (HHV does not appear to pass through breast milk.)
- Maternal age
- Season
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