pediatrics
Roseola Infantum
Introduction
Roseola infantum is an infection of infants or very young children caused by human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) or, less commonly, HHV-7. The infection causes high fever and a rubelliform eruption that occurs during or after defervescence, but localizing symptoms or signs are absent. Diagnosis is clinical, and treatment is symptomatic. Roseola infantum is the most well-described illness to result from human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6); 2 distinct HHV-6 species, A and B, exist with most if not all clinical disease linked to HHV-6B infection. HHV-6B may also cause central nervous system (CNS) disease in patients who are immunocompromised (eg, hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients). Roseola infantum occurs most often in the spring and fall. Minor local epidemics have been reported. 