What to do if a child has a rash after a fever

Children between the ages of one and three may have an emergency visit to the pediatric department, and some may have one every year. The initial symptoms are colds and unexplained fevers that never exceed 40 degrees. As the high fever persists, small rashes will appear on the body after a few days that are densely itchy and very uncomfortable.

Baby rash after fever

When a baby develops a rash after having a fever, it is medically called roseola infantum. Roseola infantum, also known as fever rash or roseola, is a sudden rash caused by a viral infection. It can occur throughout the year, but is more common in spring and autumn. The incubation period of roseola infantum is approximately 10-15 days. Although it is a contagious disease, it is very safe and will not spread as widely as measles or chickenpox. The chance of family members being infected at the same time is low.

Roseola infantum mostly occurs in infants and young children aged 6 to 18 months. The disease often develops suddenly, with a rapid rise in body temperature, usually between 39°C and 40°C. Severe patients with high fever in the early stages may have convulsions, and some may experience mild runny nose, cough, eyelid swelling, and conjunctivitis. During the fever period, there are symptoms such as poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, mild diarrhea or constipation, as well as congestion in the pharynx and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

After three to five days of fever, the body temperature drops suddenly. After the fever subsides, the child may develop light red macules or maculopapules of varying sizes all over the body, starting from the chest and abdomen and quickly spreading to the whole body. At this time, the child's fever has subsided and he can fall asleep peacefully. This is medically called "fever rash", which is a unique manifestation of roseola infantum.

Symptoms of rash after fever in baby

There are two stages of rash after a baby has a fever. After a latent period of 5-15 days, the following symptoms will appear:

1. The body temperature reaches 39-40℃, but the child is in good condition.

2. Sometimes high fever convulsions occur, but some children also have symptoms such as cough, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, and ear pain.

The second stage begins about 4 days after the onset of the disease. The symptoms at this time are:

1. Body temperature quickly returns to normal.

2. Small, clear pink spotted rashes appear, mostly on the head and trunk, and may last for about 4 days.