Difference of three-day fever in babies compared to children
The three-day fever classically affects older babies and infants. The age range extends from about six months to two years. Older children have already gone through the disease at a young age without symptoms and no longer fall ill.
In the beginning there is a high fever for mostly three days. During this time, febrile convulsions are frequently observed in babies and children up to the age of six. If a febrile spasm occurs in older children, further clarification should be carried out.
An important and dangerous differential diagnosis is meningitis in children. The general condition in the case of three-day fever is usually not reduced. The children do not feel as bad as one would expect with high fever.
Of course, babies are nevertheless usually flabbier than older children with high fever and sometimes show restricted drinking behaviour. There are no serious differences in the accompanying symptoms between babies and older children. The accompanying symptoms are rather unspecific.
There may be coughing, swelling of the neck lymph nodes or eyelids, as well as gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhea. After the three feverish days, the temperature suddenly drops back to normal values. At the same time, a rash of fine patches develops, which are mainly found on the trunk of the body.
The rash is no different in babies and children. Depending on the age, other typical childhood diseases such as measles, mumps and rubella are also possible, of course. A rash caused by medication can also sometimes look like a three-day fever.
Three-day fever during pregnancy
Since pregnant women can come into contact with children suffering from three-day fever, three-day fever plays a role in pregnancy. In most cases this is not a problem or a danger, as almost 100% of all children fall ill with three-day fever in the first year of life. During and after an infection, the body forms antibodies against the virus, through which protection (immunity) against further infection is maintained for a lifetime.
Therefore the probability of a pregnant woman becoming infected with the three-day fever is extremely small. However, there are also very rare exceptions, for example, if a pregnant woman has not formed antibodies and is therefore not immune. In this case, the pregnant woman can become infected with the three-day fever.
A confirmation that the pregnant woman has already gone through the disease in childhood and therefore there is no danger for her and the unborn child can be obtained by an antibody test.In the rare case of an infection of a pregnant woman, this usually proceeds harmlessly, but it can also lead to more complicated courses, since a changed defense situation is present in the pregnancy. A transmission of an infection to the unborn child is also not excluded and can have a negative effect on the development of the child. If there are sick children in the immediate vicinity of a pregnant woman, it is important to observe hygiene measures (washing and disinfecting hands) and avoid physical contact with them.
It should not be forgotten, however, that infection can occur before symptoms appear at the contact person. A protective vaccination is not available either before pregnancy or in acute cases (when a close relative or the pregnant woman herself becomes ill), as there is no such vaccination. In any case, a doctor should be consulted if there is any suspicion to prevent complications and not to endanger the health of the pregnant woman and the unborn child.
Between the 6th month of life and the 3rd year of life, the three-day fever is the most common contagious disease with a rash (exanthema) caused by a virus. The “sixth disease” (rubella is called the “fifth disease”) is one of the most infectious childhood diseases, is usually simple in its course and heals by itself (self-limiting). Therefore, treatment with medication is only useful to alleviate the symptoms.
At the beginning of the 3-day fever, children usually develop high fever, which can be over 39.5°C for up to a week. The rapid rise in fever can trigger febrile convulsions in 10-15% of cases. Signs that the child has a febrile spasm are unconsciousness, twitching of the arms, legs or face for 2-3 minutes and uncontrolled emptying of the bladder or intestine.
In such cases a doctor should be called. When the fever begins to drop after a few days, the child will develop the typical small spotted red rash (exanthema), which will persist for a few days and then disappear on its own. Once the rash appears, the child is usually no longer contagious. The three-day fever lasts about a week and is then over.
