Sudden High Fever — The Opening Phase of Roseola
Roseola typically starts with an abrupt, high fever with few other symptoms.
- 39–40°C: Typical onset temp (placeholder value)
- 6–24 mo: Age range affected (placeholder value)
- HHV-6/7: Causative agents (placeholder value)
- Minimal: Other symptoms (placeholder value)
What happens in this stage
Placeholder text: fever begins suddenly with limited accompanying signs.
Sustained Fever — Three to Five Days of High Temperature
The fever plateau is the defining, often frustrating, middle stretch of illness.
- 3–5 days: Duration (placeholder value)
- ~40°C: Peak temp (placeholder value)
- Often well: Child demeanor (placeholder value)
- Elevated: Febrile seizure risk (placeholder value)
What happens in this stage
Placeholder text: temperature stays high with little change day to day.
Sudden Fever Break — The Turning Point
Fever resolves abruptly, often within hours, signaling the switch to rash phase.
- Abrupt: Drop speed (placeholder value)
- Day 3–5: Typical day (placeholder value)
- Rapid: Symptom relief (placeholder value)
- ~12–24h: Rash lag (placeholder value)
What happens in this stage
Placeholder text: fever crashes down sharply just before rash appears.
Rose-Pink Rash — Emerging on the Trunk
A rose-pink maculopapular rash appears on the trunk soon after fever ends.
- Rose-pink: Rash color (placeholder value)
- Trunk: Start location (placeholder value)
- Post-fever: Onset timing (placeholder value)
- Usually none: Itchiness (placeholder value)
What happens in this stage
Placeholder text: small pink macules appear first on chest and back.
Rash Spreads Outward Then Fades
Rash extends to neck, face, and limbs, then fades over one to two days.
- Trunk→limbs: Spread direction (placeholder value)
- 1–2 days: Fade duration (placeholder value)
- None: Scarring (placeholder value)
- Full: Recovery (placeholder value)
What happens in this stage
Placeholder text: rash fades quickly leaving no lasting marks behind.