Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

A child with a high fever followed by a maculopapular rash is likely to have which condition?

1. Fifth disease

2. Roseola infantum

3. Varicella

4. Infantile maculopapular rashes

The correct answer is: Roseola infantum

A child experiencing a high fever followed by a maculopapular rash is most indicative of roseola infantum, commonly caused by human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6). This condition typically presents with a sudden onset of high fever that can last for three to five days, after which the fever subsides and a rash appears. The rash in roseola is usually a pinkish-red maculopapular eruption that starts on the trunk and can spread to other parts of the body. In contrast, while fifth disease can present with a rash, it usually starts with mild symptoms and a “slapped cheek” appearance, rather than a high fever. Varicella (chickenpox) characteristically begins with a low-grade fever, followed by an itchy vesicular rash, differing from the maculopapular rash seen in roseola. Infantile maculopapular rashes is a broader term that can refer to various conditions but does not specifically address the fever-presentation pattern associated with roseola.