Difference Between Measles and Roseola

Both roseola and measles may look similar in appearance as they usually present with a maculopapular rash. However, roseola rash is usually more pink-red, while measles rash is more red-brown. While it may be easy to confuse the two, other features help to differentiate between roseola and measles.

1. Is measles the same as roseola?
2. What does roseola rash look like?
3. What do Measles look like in the beginning?
4. When is roseola not contagious anymore?
5. Can I bathe my baby with roseola?
6. Why is roseola called the Sixth disease?
7. How did baby get roseola?
8. Is roseola a virus or bacteria?
9. Does roseola make babies cranky?
10. What can be mistaken for measles?
11. How do the measles look?
12. Does the measles rash itch?

Is measles the same as roseola?

Rubeola (measles) is often confused with roseola and rubella (German measles), but these three conditions are different. Measles produces a splotchy reddish rash that spreads from head to foot. Roseola is a condition that affects infants and toddlers.

What does roseola rash look like?

The roseola rash may look like a raised, flat area of skin. Or, it may be raised patches of flat bumps that may merge together. In some babies, the rash is reddish, and it may turn a lighter color when a person applies pressure. There can sometimes be a paler “halo” around the rash area.

What do Measles look like in the beginning?

It usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. Small raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots. The spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body.

When is roseola not contagious anymore?

Roseola is contagious, meaning it can be spread from one person to another. It is spread by the fluids that are coughed or sneezed into the air. Children with roseola can only spread the infection before the fever and/or rash occur. Once your child has symptoms, they are no longer contagious.

Can I bathe my baby with roseola?

Follow your doctor's orders for giving acetaminophen (Tylenol®) to control fever. Do not give more Tylenol® than your doctor recommends. It is best not to give your child a cool bath or sponge bath until after the Tylenol® has had a chance to work.

Why is roseola called the Sixth disease?

To distinguish roseola from other childhood diseases featuring skin rashes, it was once dubbed "sixth disease" (because it was the sixth disease young children typically developed, and it lasted about 6 days).

How did baby get roseola?

What causes roseola in a child? Roseola is caused by a type of herpes virus. The virus can enter the body through the nose and mouth. It is spread when a child breathes in droplets that contain the virus after an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or laughs.

Is roseola a virus or bacteria?

Roseola is a childhood illness caused by two strains of herpes virus. Common signs of roseola are fever and a rash on the trunk and neck.

Does roseola make babies cranky?

Most children with roseola develop a mild upper respiratory illness, followed by a high fever (often higher than 103°F or 39.5°C) for up to a week. During this time, a child might be fussy or irritable, not eat as much as usual, and may have swollen lymph nodes (glands) in the neck.

What can be mistaken for measles?

Rubella isn't the same as measles, but the two illnesses share some symptoms, including the red rash. Rubella is caused by a different virus than measles, and rubella isn't as infectious or as severe as measles.

How do the measles look?

Measles shows up first with a red flat rash, starting on the face and neck. The rash then begins to appear more solid and spreads to the trunk and arms in 2 to 3 days where the spots remain discrete. Another sign of measles are Koplik spots, white spots on the inside of the cheeks.

Does the measles rash itch?

Days 3 to 5: after 3 to 5 days a blotchy, flat red rash appears. It usually starts behind the ears and then spreads to the face, body and then the arms and legs. The rash may or may not be itchy.