6 Childhood Diseases With Rashes

Rubeola (Red Measles)

Rubella (German Measles)

Chickenpox Scarlet Fever (Scarlatina)

Roseola Fifth Disease (Erythema Infectiosum)

Signs and Symptoms

Fever up to 105. Runny nose; sore throat; cough; red, watery eyes; Koplik spots in mouth.

Fever up to 101. Aching joints, swollen glands.

1–2 days of fever up to 102 followed by rash.

High fever—worse in evenings. Sore throat; tender, swollen lymph nodes in neck; abdominal pain; nausea. (Basically strep throat with rash. Happens in about 10% of people with strep. Rare in children under 2.)

High fever up to 106 for 3–5 days. Minimal flu-like symptoms possible. Rash typically starts after fever goes away. Usually in kids 6 months to 4 years old.

Child may or may not have fever. Mild cold symptoms. Pronounced rash develops 7–10 days after onset of symptoms (symptoms are usually gone).

Rash Starts 3–5 days after symptoms start. Blotchy. Usually begins around hairline and moves to face, trunk, then extremities. Lasts 3–6 days.

Similar to rubeola rash but lasts about 3 days. 50% don’t have rash.

Begins as solid bumps that develop into fluid-filled vesicles (blisters), then crust over and heal. Typically new blisters will be forming while older ones are crusting. Itchy. Starts on face, then spreads to trunk and extremities. Usually more concentrated on chest and back.

Starts 1–4 days after onset of fever and lasts 2–7 days. Fine and rough; has a sandpaper feel. Begins on chest, neck, and armpits and spreads.

Starts 4–7 days after onset of fever and lasts 1–3 days. Light pink. Flat or slightly raised. Some bumps may be painful. Doesn’t itch. Begins on trunk and back and spreads outward.

Starts after other symptoms are gone. Cheeks can become very red, look slapped. (Also called slapped cheek disease.) Rest of rash begins on arms and spreads. Usually becomes lacy in appearance. May or may not be itchy.

Incubation* 7–21 days. 12–23 days. 10–21 days. 1–4 days. 5–15 days. 4–20 days. *How long it takes for symptoms to start after you’re exposed to the virus. Use of this information is AT YOUR OWN RISK, intended solely for self-help, in times of emergency, when medical help is not available, and does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Medical information changed rapidly, and the author cannot guarantee the accuracy or currency of the content. Copyright 2014 Hubbard Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.

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6 Childhood Diseases With Rashes (cont.)

Rubeola (Red Measles)

Rubella (German Measles)

Chickenpox Scarlet Fever (Scarlatina)

Roseola Fifth Disease (Erythema Infectiosum)

Treatment Rest, fluids (oral), easing of symptoms (something for cough, fever, etc.), time.

Rest, fluids (oral), easing of symptoms, time.

Rest, fluids (oral), easing of symptoms, time.

Antibiotics (e.g., penicillin, amoxicillin, cephalexin, azithromycin, or erythromycin). Mild scarlet fever will go away without antibiotics, but antibiotics greatly decrease risk of complications.

Rest, fluids (oral), easing of symptoms (something for fever, etc.), time.

Rest, fluids (oral), easing of symptoms, time.

Duration of Illness

7–10 days. 1–3 days. 3-10 days. 5–10 days. 4–10 days. 1–3 weeks.

Most Common Complications

Pneumonia, ear infections, diarrhea.

Birth defects in 20% of babies whose mothers got the disease while pregnant. Joint pain and swelling for several weeks in adults, especially women.

Secondary bacterial skin infections. Pneumonia in adults.

Rare if treated with antibiotics. Rheumatic fever, ear and sinus infections, kidney or liver damage, meningitis, pneumonia.

Febrile seizures.

50% of adults may have painful joints for up to 3 weeks, sometimes much longer. Joint pain much rarer in children.

How Long Contagious

4 days before onset of symptoms to 4 days after rash begins.

1 week before rash until 1 week after rash begins.

2 days before rash until all the vesicles are crusting.

4 days before rash to 24 hours after antibiotic treatment is started. If no antibiotics, may remain contagious for 21 days after onset of symptoms.

2 days before fever until 2 days after fever is gone.

Early on but not by the time the rash develops.

Use of this information is AT YOUR OWN RISK, intended solely for self-help, in times of emergency, when medical help is not available, and does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Medical information changed rapidly, and the author cannot guarantee the accuracy or currency of the content. Copyright 2014 Hubbard Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.