syphilitic roseola

roseola /ro·se·o·la/ (ro-ze´o-lah) (ro″ze-o´lah) [L.]

1. any rose-colored rash.

2. exanthema subitum.

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roseola infan´tum  exanthema subitum.

syphilitic roseola  eruption of rose-colored spots in early secondary syphilis.

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syphilitic roseola

n.

Roseola marking the first eruption of syphilis, occurring 6 to 12 weeks after the initial lesion.

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roseola [ro-ze´o-lah, ro″ze-o´lah] (L.)

1. any rose-colored rash.

2. roseola infantum.

roseola infan´tum a common acute disease caused by infection with the herpesvirusRoseolovirus. It usually occurs in children under two years old, coming on suddenly and disappearing in 3 to 5 days, leaving no permanent marks. Diagnosis is difficult because the sole early symptom, beyond irritability and drowsiness, is fever. There may be convulsions, and generally the fever is very high; 40°C (104°F) is not unusual. Despite the high fever, the disease is mild. Called also exanthem subitum.



As the fever subsides and the disease is apparently at an end, a rash breaks out, usually on the body. This is unlike the course of other childhood diseases such as measles, scarlet fever, and chickenpox, in which the rash is present during the most intense phase; the rash of roseola infantum lasts only a few days and may disappear within hours (often it is so transitory that it is missed). Treatment consists only of such standard measures as antipyretics and tepid sponge baths to allay the fever. Rest and fluids are also recommended.

Once it is over, the child is believed to be permanently immune from further attacks. Roseola is sometimes confused with rubella, but is distinguished by having no lymph node involvement. Blood antibody titers are sometimes used when symptoms appear, to determine which disease it is.

syphilitic roseola an eruption of rose-colored spots in early secondary syphilis.