In rare cases, steroids such as prednisone are given if swelling of the tonsils obstructs the airway and makes it hard for the person to breathe. The rash is the first sign of disease in children. In adults, the rash, if it develops at all, follows a low-grade fever, loss of appetite, malaise, headache, and swollen glands. In either case, the rash spreads, then disappears rapidly, and usually is completely gone after four to five days. In both children and adults, symptoms may be minimal, or may not appear at all.
Treatment includes isolation until the rash disappears plus acetaminophen for pain and fever.
Thanks to widespread use of rubella vaccine, the disease is now very rarely seen. The child typically recovers from the initial infection only to relapse a few days later with intractable vomiting, mild to severe confusion, agitation, and irritability. The syndrome often progresses to coma and is fatal in 20 percent of the cases. Needless to say, you should contact a doctor immediately if any of these symptoms appear. And, since aspirin increases the risk of Reye's syndrome, give your child acetaminophen instead.