Exanthem subitum (roseola infantum): Report of eighty cases

Abstract

Summary 1.A study of eighty cases of exanthem subitum (roseola infantum) is presented. 2.Forty-two cases (52.5 per cent) occurred in boys and thirty-eight (47.5 per cent) in girls, revealing an almost equal distribution between the sexes. Most of the cases occurred during the months of February, March, April, and October. 3.The illness is a self-limited acute febrile disease of unknown etiology of infants and young children and is characterized by an abrupt onset, malaise, and termination in an afebrile exanthem having a predilection for the trunk, neck, and extremities. Fever, irritability, slight lymph node enlargement, and lack of findings commensurate with these symptoms are typical in the pre-eruptive stage. Sequelae or complications are very rare. 4.Peripheral blood findings reveal a relative leucopenia and neutropenia with lymphocytosis by the third day of the disease. Summary 1.A study of eighty cases of exanthem subitum (roseola infantum) is presented. 2.Forty-two cases (52.5 per cent) occurred in boys and thirty-eight (47.5 per cent) in girls, revealing an almost equal distribution between the sexes. Most of the cases occurred during the months of February, March, April, and October. 3.The illness is a self-limited acute febrile disease of unknown etiology of infants and young children and is characterized by an abrupt onset, malaise, and termination in an afebrile exanthem having a predilection for the trunk, neck, and extremities. Fever, irritability, slight lymph node enlargement, and lack of findings commensurate with these symptoms are typical in the pre-eruptive stage. Sequelae or complications are very rare. 4.Peripheral blood findings reveal a relative leucopenia and neutropenia with lymphocytosis by the third day of the disease.