Sixth disease: symptoms, transmission, and complications

The sixth disease, less known than measles and rubella, affects children between 6 and 24 months. The infection arises from the HHV 6A virus e B, of the family of herpes. Also note as critical rash, immediately, is characterized by the appearance of pink-colored spots. The contagion occurs through the air (blows cough e sneezing), or even through mucus and saliva, or through contact with infected objects.

Index of topics

What

It is a exanthematous disease which affects early childhood and arises due to contact with an infectious agent. The person responsible for the disease is a viruses of the herpes family: Human Virus Type 6B.

The name of the disease is due to thechronological order with which the were discovered exanthematous diseases. And this, evidently, was the sixth to be identified.

La sixth disease, also known under other specialist names such as roseola infantum, roseola, three-day fever, sudden rash It is, like other viruses of the same family, insidious for one reason: once the symptoms have been eliminated, it persists in the organism and remains latent, as happens for the chickenpox andHerpes Zoster, better known as Fire of saint Anthony.

For this reason, it is important to understand the infection dynamics and try to minimize the potential damage it can cause.

Cause

The sixth disease arises following direct contact with saliva o by air with sneezing and coughThe transmissibility of the virus is maximum during the feverish phase.

Infection by the virus has been found in several cases as well perinatal phase: last week of gestation and first week of the newborn's life. There is no evidence of possible infection through breast milk.

In most cases, thanks to the antibodies transmitted by the mother, the newborns, up to 6 months of age, do not contract the virus. In fact, the The age group most at risk is between 6 months and 2 years of age.

Human Herpesvirus 6 appears to have some correlation with the multiple sclerosisHow? Recent research shows that the virus is able to infect cells involved in the mechanisms that lead to the onset of the disease.

Symptoms

Roseola manifests itself with common symptoms such as:

High fever
Cold
Irritability
Diarrhea
Threw up
Conjunctivitis

In children with immune system weakened o compromise stronger symptoms may appear such as convulsions, spasms or even loss of consciousness. in these cases, children must be taken to the emergency room immediately and started on therapies as directed by the doctor.

Remedies

Sixth disease, like other exanthematous diseases, it usually goes away on its own and there is no need to intervene with specific drugs. In fact, the medicines administered generally only serve to relieve symptoms like a fever or cold.

With the addition bacterial superinfections of the respiratory tract, in these cases, can be treated with antibiotics.

In the cases of immunosuppression, when you have seizures or reach dangerous forms such as meningoencephalitis, the doctor will provide a more specific antiviral therapy with very careful monitoring.

When is it dangerous?

Generally, Roseola resolves on its own without any medical attention.. However, following sixth disease, rare cases of meningoencephalitis, hepatitis fulminant e mononucleosis-like syndromes. Furthermore, medical-scientific literature has demonstrated the correlation between the virus and a possible worsening, even serious, in the evolution of multiple sclerosis.

Complications

Although very rare, there have been cases in which the sixth disease, in predisposed subjects, has increased the fever over 40 degrees, bringing to febrile convulsions, characterized by muscle tension, stiffening of the limbs and loss of consciousness. Rare complications, as already mentioned, may include the onset of meningoencephalitis, hepatitis and worsening of the multiple sclerosis.

Can adults have it too?

Of course, yes, but it is very rare and the symptoms are more evident. Studies show that the percentage of an adult contracting the virus increases when the subject is affected by AIDS/HIV, he underwent a organ transplant, or due to a medical condition that has compromised immune system.

Prevention

At the present time, There are no preventive guidelines for sixth disease. absence of a vaccine makes it even more difficult to predict preventive measures.

The advice, in these cases, is to wash your hands frequently during the coldest months of the year, when viruses are most effective, especially when you are away from home for a long time. Avoid direct contact with people showing feverish or viral symptoms, and follow one active lifestyle and a balanced diet and rich in fruit e vegetables.

Sixth disease: symptoms, causes, transmission, and prevention