Question
My child has had a high fever for the past 4 days, reaching a peak of 39.7 degrees. The hospital examination found no inflammation, and they said it was a viral infection. The elderly at home said it was sand. This morning, several small red spots appeared on the body, and I’m not sure if it’s heat rash or sand rash.
Answer
Hello! Based on your description, your child’s condition may be infantile roseola. This is a viral infection characterized by fever (usually quite high) for three to four days, followed by the appearance of rashes after the fever subsides or vice versa. These rashes are generally not itchy, but some children may experience itching. Children without itching can be left alone as they will naturally fade within one to two days without leaving any hyperpigmentation or desquamation. For those with itching, hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion can be applied externally. Just wait for the rash to fade; there is no need to worry excessively. Roseola infantum is caused by viral infection, and antibiotic treatment is ineffective; therefore, antibiotics should not be used excessively. It is understandable that parents are worried about their child’s repeated fever, but fever itself is not harmful to the body. Many parents are concerned about “burning the brain” – this situation often occurs due to viral or bacterial infections attacking the brain, not the effect of fever itself; children who experience high fever seizures are also not caused by fever itself. Instead, it may be due to certain unsatisfactory conditions in the child’s brain or because the child’s brain is in an active developmental phase and becomes excited due to high fever, leading to seizures. Fever-induced seizures are only triggers; they are external causes acting through internal causes. It is recommended to use physical cooling methods for fever in children, such as frequent warm water sponge baths for temperatures below 38.5 degrees, using warm towels to wipe the limbs and back.