Some Viral Infections in Children That Cause a Rash
Infection |
Period of Incubation |
Period of Contagiousness |
Site of Rash |
Nature of Rash |
|
Measles (rubeola) |
7 to 14 days |
From 2 to 4 days before the rash appears until 2 to 5 days after |
Starts around the ears and on the face and neck Spreads to the trunk, arms, and legs |
Begins 3 to 5 days after the start of fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat and lasts 3 to 5 days Irregular, flat, red areas that soon become raised |
|
Rubella (German measles) |
14 to 21 days |
From a week before the rash appears until a week after it appears Infected newborns are usually contagious for many months |
Starts on the face and neck Spreads to the trunk, arms, and legs |
Begins 1 or 2 days after the start of mild fever, swollen and tender lymph nodes, red eyes, and headache and lasts 3 to 5 days Fine, pinkish, flat rash |
|
Roseola infantum (exanthem subitum or pseudorubella) |
About 5 to 15 days |
Unknown |
Starts on the trunk and usually spreads to the neck, face, arms, and legs |
Begins on about the 4th day after the start of a high fever and usually just when the fever ends and lasts for hours to a few days Pinkish red, flat or raised rash |
|
Erythema infectiosum (fifth disease or parvovirus B19 infection) |
4 to 14 days |
From before the start of the rash until 1 to 2 days after |
Starts on the cheeks Spreads to the arms, legs, and trunk |
Begins several days after the start of low fever, headache, and runny nose and lasts 5 to 10 days May recur for several weeks Red rash on the cheeks (slapped-cheek rash) spreads to the arms, legs, and trunk and becomes lighter and blotchy with lacy patterns |
|
Chickenpox (varicella) |
11 to 15 days |
From a few days before the start of symptoms until all spots have crusted |
Starts on the face, neck, and trunk Spreads to the arms, legs, and scalp |
Appears in crops, so various stages are present simultaneously Begins shortly after the start of fever and feeling of illness and lasts a few days to 2 weeks Small, flat, red spots that become raised and form round, fluid-filled blisters against a red background before finally crusting |