Question
The child has small red rashes on the front and back of their chest, with an initial few rashes but a significant increase overnight. No treatment has been administered yet. How should one respond when a child develops red rashes?
Answer
Infantile roseola, also known as measles or rubella, is an acute rash caused by viral infection that can occur year-round, but is more common during spring and autumn. This condition is often seen in children aged between 6 months and 1 year. The affected child will first experience a high fever that lasts for 3 to 4 days, with temperatures reaching up to 39 to 40 degrees Celsius. After the fever subsides, the rash appears rapidly on the body and quickly fades without any peeling or hyperpigmentation. There is currently no specific treatment for this condition, and antibiotic treatment is ineffective. The main approach is symptomatic treatment, such as using fever-reducing and calming agents if there is high fever, irritability, or easy startling; if the fever persists, more fluids should be provided, encouraging the child to drink more plain water, vegetable soup, juice, etc.