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AKA exanthem subitum (“sudden rash”)
| • | HHV-6 (epidemiologically and biologically similar to CMV) |
| • | ubiquitous (like other herpesviruses) antibodies present in >90% by age 2 |
| • | it is probably latent in salivary glands; may affect infants through the saliva, mainly mother to child |
clinical:
| • | most between age 6 months and 4 years |
| • | the development of high fever is worrisome, but the onset of characteristic rash is reassuring |
prodrome:
| • | high fever 103-106°, but children inappropriately well for the degree of temperature elevation (in adults with HIV who look inappropriately well for degree of temperature elevation – think MAC) |
| • | sometimes febrile seizures |
| • | suboccipital lymphadenopathy |
eruptive phase:
| • | rash begins as fever subsides |
| • | exanthem subitum indicates the sudden “surprise” of the blossoming rash after the fall of the fever |
| • | the exanthem may resemble rubella or measles |
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