Question
An eight-month-old male infant experienced a high fever, which was diagnosed as infantile roseola in the hospital. What is infantile roseola, and what are its symptoms?
Answer
Infantile roseola, also known as sixth disease, is a common viral rash disease occurring during infancy. It typically affects children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. The disease is characterized by an acute onset with a sudden high fever reaching 40°C and lasting for 3 to 4 days, followed by a rapid drop in body temperature. Simultaneously with the drop in body temperature, a rash appears rapidly, initially on the neck and trunk, and then quickly spreads to the limbs.