Exanthema subitum – colloquially called three-day fever – (synonyms: roseola infantum, sixth disease; ICD-10-GM B08.2: exanthema subitum [sixth disease]) is an infectious disease caused by human herpes virus type 6 (HHV-6), rarely also type 7 (HHV-7).
There are two types of human herpes virus (HHV-6): subtype HHV-6B is the causative agent of three-day fever (exanthema subitum):Note: To date, no primary infection has been associated with subtype HHV-6A.
Humans currently represent the only relevant pathogen reservoir.
Occurrence: The pathogen occurs worldwide.
Contagiousness (infectiousness or transmissibility of the pathogen) is low.
Seasonal frequency of the disease: Three-day fever occurs more frequently in spring and autumn.
The transmission of the pathogen (route of infection) occurs via saliva, but mostly via droplets that are produced during coughing and sneezing and are absorbed by the other person via the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and possibly the eye (droplet infection) or aerogenically (through droplet nuclei (aerosols) containing the pathogen in the exhaled air). The virus has also been found in vaginal secretions (vaginal secretions).
The incubation period (time from infection to onset of disease) is usually 5-15 days.
Peak incidence: The disease occurs predominantly in infants and young children. The infestation rate is almost 100% by the third year of life.
The disease leaves lifelong immunity.
Course and prognosis: The disease often goes unnoticed. Rarely, there are accompanying symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, cough or otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear). Febrile convulsions occur in about 10% of patients. After about 5 to 7 days, the disease subsides spontaneously.
A protective vaccination against three-day fever is not yet available.
