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Medical Author:

John Mersch, MD, FAAP

John Mersch, MD, FAAP

Dr. Mersch received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego, and prior to entering the University Of Southern California School Of Medicine, was a graduate student (attaining PhD candidate status) in Experimental Pathology at USC. He attended internship and residency at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• What is roseola?
• What virus causes roseola?
• How is roseola spread?
• What are roseola symptoms and signs?
• How high can the fever go with roseola?
• What is the treatment for the fever of roseola?
• Can the fever cause a seizure?
• Is a seizure due to fever dangerous?
• What should I do if my child with roseola has a seizure?
• Is there a rash with roseola?
• What is most remarkable characteristic of roseola?
• What is the course of roseola?
• Are there any complications of roseola?
• Should I take my child to the doctor with roseola?
• When can the child return to child care?
• Are there other names for roseola?
• Roseola At A Glance
• Patient Comments: Roseola - Symptoms
• Patient Comments: Roseola - Describe Your Experience
• Find a local Pediatrician in your town
• Roseola Index

The fever can be quite high. The fever averages 103.5 F (39.7 C), but it can go up as high as 106 F (41.2 C).

If the fever is not causing the child to be uncomfortable, the fever need not be treated. It is not necessary to awaken the child to treat a fever unless instructed to do so by a health-care practitioner.

If you wish to treat the fever, acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) can be used to lower a fever. Aspirin should never be used for fever in children or adolescents.

A child with a fever should be kept comfortable and not be overdressed. Overdressing can cause the temperature to go higher. Bathing with tepid water (85 F or 29.5 C) may help bring down a fever. If a child develops shivering during the bath, the temperature of the bath water should be raised. Never sponge a child (or an adult) with alcohol; the alcohol fumes may be inhaled, causing many problems.

Yes. The high fever of roseola may trigger a seizure (a convulsion). Febrile seizures (convulsions due to fever) are common in children between 18 months to 3 years of age. They occur in 5% to 35% of children with roseola.

The seizure may look very frightening, but it is usually quite harmless (benign). Febrile seizures are not associated with long-term nervous-system side effects or brain damage. Anticonvulsant medications are very rarely prescribed for the treatment or prevention of febrile seizures.