Understanding Herpes Virus Rashes in Children: Causes & Symptoms

Four of the human herpes viruses (HHV) can lead to rash symptoms in a total of three conditions (two of them cause the same illness). Herpes infections that affect children are all marked by rash, with or without blisters.

Herpes Simplex Viruses

• The herpes simplex viruses (HSV) 1 (cold sores) and 2 (genital herpes) can affect children and cause red rash with blisters. Because HSV-2 is transmitted primarily through sexual contact, children with HSV-2 may have been abused.

Chicken Pox

• Chicken pox is caused by infection with HHV-3, also known as varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Chickenpox causes a red rash and blisters with itching.

Roseola

• Roseola can be caused by infection with either HHV-6 or HHV-7. It causes pink rash without blisters on the trunk of the body that can spread to other areas of the body.

Complications

• The intense pain caused by primary infection with the cold-sore virus may lead to dehydration in children, possibly requiring hospitalization. Some children may experience a seizure due to fever in roseola.

Considerations

• Many viral rashes are very similar in appearance. Therefore, consult your physician about specific symptoms so that an appropriate course of treatment can be chosen.