What is Fifth’s Disease?

What is Fifth’s Disease?

Fifth’s Disease is a virus caused by human parvovirus. Often presenting itself with a facial rash that looks like ‘slapped face or slapped cheek’ rash. It may or may not be accompanied by a temperature from 99- 102 degrees. The most common ages to have the disease are school age children.

1. Flu and cold type symptoms- cough, running nose, generalized aches and pains in joints and muscles, loss of appetite and irritability.

2. Rash on a cheek that appears to look like ‘slapped face or cheeked’ and it is warm to touch, but not painful.

3. The rash then spreads to the thighs and arms in a lacelike pattern.

How contagious is Fifth’s Disease?

Fifth’s Disease is highly contagious, but very difficult to control. It is a harmless virus that leaves no lasting effects. And it affects the red blood cells of the body, and increasing the white blood cell count. It is transmitted by airborne pathogens such as sneezing or coughing. The incubation period is four days to two weeks after exposure to someone infected with it. The child is usually feeling ill three to seven days. It may manifest itself with only a few of the above named symptoms, which would lead only to a mild case of the disease. It has been reported children who suffer from measles or mumps may have Fifth’s Disease right after infected with the measles and mumps viruses. Unfortunately, you are only infective before the rash appears. So there is no need to keep the child home from school to prevent the spreading of the disease, because they have already infected most people they have come in contact with. The school should be told if your child does have Fifth’s Disease, as well as family and friends.

This can cause complications only with those women in their first trimester of pregnancy. If a pregnant woman is infected she can go to her physician and have blood tests to determine if she is immune or her status with the disease.

What is the treatment?

Make sure you use good hand washing techniques. No sharing of glasses, plates or other eating utensils.

There is no treatment or antibiotic to be given. Fifth’s Disease is a virus, viruses are not treated with antibiotics. Comfort therapy is used, most physicians recommend Tylenol, Advil and plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

This article is for informational purposes only, please do not misconstrue it as medical advice. If you feel your child does indeed have Fifth’s Disease contact your physician and schedule an appointment for proper diagnosis and treatment.