Exanthem subitum – causes, side effects and treatments at NaturalPedia.com

Wednesday, March 21, 2018 by Zoey Sky

Exanthem subitum, which means “a sudden rash,” refers to a viral disease of infants and young children.

Symptoms of exanthem subitum include the sudden onset of high fever. Patients will have a fever for at least several days, and it will suddenly subside. However, children will have a fine red rash.

The causative agent of exanthem subitum is herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6). It is also known as the “sixth disease.” It is less commonly caused by human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7).

It is also called pseudorubella, roseola, roseola infantilis, and roseola infantum.

Known side effects of exanthem subitum

The known side effects of exanthem subitum will often vary based on the patient’s age.

Infants and toddlers usually develop sudden symptoms with a sudden onset of a high fever (at least 103 F to 104 F) which may last for three to five days.
The patient may become irritable and develop mild diarrhea, puffy eyelids, a runny nose, and swollen glands in the front or back of the neck.
After 12 to 24 hours of the fever breaking, a rash rapidly appears.
Older children with the infection may have a high fever for several days accompanied by a runny nose and/or diarrhea.
Older children may sometimes develop a rash as the fever abates, but this only happens in rare cases.

Body systems harmed by exanthem subitum

Children with exanthem subitum rarely develop complications, except for those who have suppressed immune systems. People who have healthy immune systems often develop lifelong immunity to HHV-6 (or HHV-7).

Food items or nutrients that may prevent exanthem subitum

These foods and nutrients can help prevent exanthem subitum:

Alizarin – Alizarin may help treat viral infections such as exanthem subitum.
Cranberry – Cranberry also has antiviral properties.
Orange juice – Full of vitamin C, orange juice is a powerful antioxidant that can remove toxins from the body. It can also help boost the immune system so it can fight viruses more effectively.
Turmeric – Turmeric may help treat several viral infections.
Vitamin A – Patients can benefit from this vitamin since it can help decrease the length and impact of exanthem subitum. Vitamin A can also minimize side effects like diarrhea, pneumonia, and death.

Treatments, management plans for exanthem subitum

There is no specific treatment for exanthem subitum, but several medications and home remedies can be administered to ease discomfort and manage the symptoms of the condition.

Patients with exanthem subitum must stay hydrated by drinking clear fluids. Children should drink plenty of clear fluids like:

Broth
Electrolyte solution
Lemon-lime soda
Sports drinks
Water

Certain over-the-counter pain relief medications may be given to children on the advice of a healthcare professional. Medications to reduce fever include acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).

A healthcare professional may prescribe the antiviral medication ganciclovir (Cytovene) for patients with weak immune systems. The medication can prevent the virus from replicating its DNA. Do take note that antibiotics can’t be used to treat exanthem subitum or other viral infections because they are ineffective against viruses.

Patients with exanthem subitum may feel better once they get enough rest and their fever subsides. Make sure that children with the condition don’t overexert themselves. If they are still contagious, keep them isolated in the meantime.

Keep patients cool and soothe discomfort caused by their fever by:

Applying a cool compress to the forehead
Giving them a lukewarm sponge bath
Use a light bedsheet instead of a heavy duvet

Do not give patients with the condition a bath using ice or cold water because this can cause chills.

Take note that children can resume their normal activities once they are fever-free for 24 hours and do not have any other significant symptoms.

Where to learn more

Summary

Exanthem subitum, which means “a sudden rash,” refers to a viral disease of infants and young children.

Exanthem subitums’ symptoms include the sudden onset of high fever. Patients will have a fever for at least several days, and it will suddenly subside. However, children will have a fine red rash.

The causative agent of exanthem subitum is herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6), so the disease is called the Sixth Disease. It is less commonly caused by human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7)

It is also called Pseudorubella, Roseola, Roseola infantilis, and Roseola infantum.

Alizarin, cranberry, orange juice, turmeric, and vitamin A can help prevent exanthem subitum.

There is no specific treatment for exanthem subitum, but several medications and home remedies can be administered to ease discomfort and manage the symptoms of the condition such as staying hydrated, medications, resting, and keeping patients cool.

Sources include

SimplyGoodNaturalFoods.com

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