3-Day Fever

When your own baby is sick for the very first time and has a fever, many parents are deeply worried. Often, the so-called 3-day fever is the first childhood illness your little explorer contracts. Since it usually runs a harmless course, concerns are generally unfounded. But how can you tell if it really is 3-day fever and not another infection? You can find these and more details about the viral illness in our article.

How is the 3-day fever transmitted?

The 3-day fever (medical Exanthema subitum or Roseola infantum ) is a highly contagious, but largely harmless viral disease . The pathogen is a human herpesvirus (HHV-6 or HHV-7), which is transmitted via a Droplet infection , also Niesen, speaking or coughing, is transmitted. Since about 80 to 90 percent of the population carries the virus, it is also possible that you transmit it to your child yourself, for example when you kiss them. Most babies and young children develop three-day fever between the sixth and 15th month of life.

What symptoms indicate roseola (exanthem subitum)?

The Incubation period after infection with the 3-day fever, it amounts to between seven and 17 days . Then step in completely suddenly fever up, which can rise above 40 degrees Celsius and last for three to four days before dropping sharply again. Other symptoms that your little explorer may experience include vomiting, Diarrhea , an inflamed throat, swollen lymph nodes or eyelids, a runny nose or cough.

In infants infected with the 3-day fever, the often also bulges the out Fontanelle forward and tightens. After the fever, it may be that within a few hours a small-area, red Skin rash spreads across the body of your child. This usually lasts for two to three days before it disappears again. In some children, it does not occur at all. Overall, the 3-day fever generally progresses quite harmless . Many children have no symptoms at all or only mild symptoms, so the infection in many cases even unnoticed progresses.

Febrile seizures as a complication

Even though most children recover from 3-day fever without any problems, there are some complications that may occur in certain cases. Up to a quarter of young patients experience during the 3-day fever febrile seizures . The child temporarily loses consciousness and jerks with arms and legs. It can be quite frightening to observe such a convulsion, which strongly resembles an epileptic seizure, in your child. But don't worry: febrile seizures are harmless and leave no lasting damage. If your little explorer has an acute seizure, you can pick them up and ensure fresh air so they can breathe freely. The febrile convulsion usually passes after a few minutes. If this is the first febrile seizure your baby has experienced, you should consult your pediatrician to rule out other causes besides the 3-day fever. In very rare cases, especially in older or immunocompromised children, pneumonia can occur as a result of the 3-day fever, and even more rarely, inflammation of the brain, liver, or bone marrow.

How is the 3-day fever treated?

Due to the diffuse symptoms, an exact diagnosis is difficult. Only after the fever subsides and the characteristic rash appears can the pediatrician definitively determine whether your child has actually contracted 3-day fever. If an earlier diagnosis is necessary, for example in immunocompromised children or in cases of very severe illness, the virus can also be detected in the blood, saliva, or cerebrospinal fluid. Because of the sometimes high fever, some children appear seriously ill, and many parents initially suspect other illnesses.

Is your baby within three months , you should definitely see a doctor if you have a fever to the pediatrician or go to the children's hospital to rule out other serious causes. If your child older than three months is, a doctor's visit is not necessarily immediate, but advisable within the next few hours. However, treatment of the 3-day fever is not possible even with a clear diagnosis; you can only the Alleviate your little explorer's symptoms :

• Stellen Sie sicher, dass Ihr Kind enough drinks , to compensate for the fluid loss caused by the fever. If they do not want to drink, you should contact your doctor immediately. If your child has had little appetite and is eating only a little for several days but is drinking enough, this is not a cause for concern at first.

• You should avoid contact with other children due to the risk of infection. Instead, at home bed rest It's time for your little explorer.

• Home remedies such as luke-warm calf compresses can reduce the fever. However, medications with fever-reducing effects should only be given after consulting with your doctor.

You can find more tips in our article "".

How often can my child get the 3-day fever?

There is no vaccine against the 3-day fever, and since the infection is highly contagious, protection against it is hardly possible. By the end of their second year of life, approximately 95 percent all children have gone through the 3-day fever – sometimes unnoticed. The good news: once the illness is over, your little darling immune to it for a lifetime .

High fever and an unexplained skin rash – many parents are initially shocked when their usually small baby suddenly shows these symptoms. But his name already suggests it: The 3-day fever fortunately disappears just as quickly as it came. and usually proceeds without further complications. We hope that your child recovers well from the infection and that you can soon devote yourselves to more pleasant things!