eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Viral Infections

Roseola Infantum: Differential Diagnoses & Workup

Author: Stephen W White, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, George Washington University Hospital; Chief, Sub-section of Dermatology, Suburban Hospital
Coauthor(s): Christopher R Gorman, MD, Bethesda Dermatology, private practice
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Nov 13, 2009

Differential Diagnoses

Meningococcemia

Other Problems to Be Considered

Fever of unknown origin
Pneumococcemia
Viral syndromes with fever and exanthem 
Measles and rubella
In patients who are immunocompromised, many differential diagnoses, including viral, bacterial, fungal, and immunologic conditions, exist.

Workup

Laboratory Studies

  • In response to the early acute febrile presentation, laboratory studies may include a CBC count, urinalysis, blood cultures, and cerebrospinal fluid examination.
  • If the patient presents with a febrile seizure, a seizure workup may be indicated.
  • Roseola infantum diagnosis may be confirmed by virus isolation, seroconversion (immunoglobulin M), or detection of viral DNA sequences in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Histologic Findings

Typical ballooning cells may be seen in any organ system affected with HHV-6 infection.

More on Roseola Infantum

Overview: Roseola Infantum
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Roseola Infantum
Treatment & Medication: Roseola Infantum
Follow-up: Roseola Infantum
References
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References

  1. Vinnard C, Barton T, Jerud E, Blumberg E. A report of human herpesvirus 6-associated encephalitis in a solid organ transplant recipient and a review of previously published cases. Liver Transpl. Oct 2009;15(10):1242-6. [Medline].

  2. Abdel Massih RC, Razonable RR. Human herpesvirus 6 infections after liver transplantation. World J Gastroenterol. Jun 7 2009;15(21):2561-9. [Medline].

  3. Zerr DM, Meier AS, Selke SS, et al. A population-based study of primary human herpesvirus 6 infection. N Engl J Med. Feb 24 2005;352(8):768-76. [Medline].

  4. Vianna RA, de Oliveira SA, Camacho LA, et al. Role of human herpesvirus 6 infection in young Brazilian children with rash illnesses. Pediatr Infect Dis J. Jun 2008;27(6):533-7. [Medline].

  5. Rapaport D, Engelhard D, Tagger G, Or R, Frenkel N. Antiviral prophylaxis may prevent human herpesvirus-6 reactivation in bone marrow transplant recipients. Transpl Infect Dis. Mar 2002;4(1):10-6. [Medline].

  6. Ward KN. The natural history and laboratory diagnosis of human herpesviruses-6 and -7 infections in the immunocompetent. J Clin Virol. Mar 2005;32(3):183-93. [Medline].

  7. Ward KN, Andrews NJ, Verity CM, Miller E, Ross EM. Human herpesviruses-6 and -7 each cause significant neurological morbidity in Britain and Ireland. Arch Dis Child. Jun 2005;90(6):619-23. [Medline].

  8. Asano Y, Suga S, Yoshikawa T, Urisu A, Yazaki T. Human herpesvirus type 6 infection (exanthem subitum) without fever. J Pediatr. Aug 1989;115(2):264-5. [Medline].

  9. Asano Y, Yoshikawa T, Suga S, et al. Clinical features of infants with primary human herpesvirus 6 infection (exanthem subitum, roseola infantum). Pediatrics. Jan 1994;93(1):104-8. [Medline].

  10. Campadelli-Fiume G, Mirandola P, Menotti L. Human herpesvirus 6: An emerging pathogen. Emerg Infect Dis. May-Jun 1999;5(3):353-66. [Medline].

  11. Dockrell DH. Human herpesvirus 6: molecular biology and clinical features. J Med Microbiol. Jan 2003;52:5-18. [Medline].

  12. Hall CB, Long CE, Schnabel KC, et al. Human herpesvirus-6 infection in children. A prospective study of complications and reactivation. N Engl J Med. Aug 18 1994;331(7):432-8. [Medline].

  13. Wang FZ, Linde A, Hagglund H, Testa M, Locasciulli A, Ljungman P. Human herpesvirus 6 DNA in cerebrospinal fluid specimens from allogeneic bone marrow transplant patients: does it have clinical significance?. Clin Infect Dis. Mar 1999;28(3):562-8. [Medline].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

roseola infantum, roseola exanthem subitum, sixth disease, herpes virus, human herpesvirus 6, HHV-6, human herpesvirus 7, HHV-7, herpes, human herpes virus, herpetic infection

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Stephen W White, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, George Washington University Hospital; Chief, Sub-section of Dermatology, Suburban Hospital
Stephen W White, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, International Society of Dermatology, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and Society for Pediatric Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Christopher R Gorman, MD, Bethesda Dermatology, private practice
Christopher R Gorman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Franklin Flowers, MD, Chief, Division of Dermatology, Professor, Department of Medicine and Otolaryngology, University of Florida College of Medicine
Franklin Flowers, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Richard P Vinson, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA
Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Paul Krusinski, MD, Director of Dermatology, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Fletcher Allen Health Care, University of Vermont
Paul Krusinski, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE, Medical Director, Clinical Studies Unit, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Associate Scholar, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania
Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE is a member of the following medical societies: Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: AMGEN Consulting fee Consulting; AMGEN Grant/research funds None; Genentech Consulting fee Consulting; Centocor Consulting fee Consulting; Centocor Grant/research funds None; Covance Consulting fee Consulting; Shire  Consulting

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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