Contagious, blisters need to be crusted over before returning to child care, infectious 2 days prior to blisters to 14 days after blisters. Before the onset of the rash there may be a few days of mild fatigue with lymph nodes at the back of the neck enlarged and tender. The rash first appears on the face as flat red spots and quickly spreads. The fever rarely goes above 101 degrees. Inflammation of the membrane which lines the eye and the inner surface of the eyelid.
Fever occurs before rash and white spots appear inside the mouth.
After the fifth day, the rash turns pink, blotchy and flat. High fever, acute respiratory disease and conjunctivitis may develop. Swollen glands occur which produce a pain below the ear and the opening of the gland in the mouth becomes red and puffy. Fatigue, loss of appetite and headache are common. Mild viral infection with rash, mainly confined to babies and children under three.