Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

What condition is characterized by a high fever, followed by a rash, particularly in infants?

1. Fifth disease

2. Measles

3. Roseola infantum

4. Scarlet fever

The correct answer is: Roseola infantum

The condition characterized by a high fever followed by a rash, particularly in infants, is roseola infantum. This viral infection, commonly caused by human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), typically presents in children between six months to two years of age. Initially, the infant experiences a sudden high fever, which can last for several days. Once the fever subsides, a distinctive rash emerges, often starting on the trunk and spreading to the limbs and face. The rash is typically described as rose-colored spots that may blend together. In contrast, fifth disease, also known as erythema infectiosum, usually begins with mild cold-like symptoms and then features a "slapped cheek" rash in younger children, which presents after the viral phase. Measles is characterized by a prodromal phase including fever, cough, and conjunctivitis, followed by a measles rash that typically appears several days later. Scarlet fever presents with a high fever and a sandpaper-like rash, often accompanied by throat symptoms due to streptococcal infection, but it does not follow the same fever-first pattern seen in roseola. Therefore, the hallmark feature of roseola infantum—high fever occurring before the rash—is what makes it the