Fifth disease (Parvovirus B19 or slapped cheek) factsheet
Introduction
Fifth disease, also known as slapped cheek, is a contagious viral illness caused by parvovirus B19. It mainly affects preschool and school-aged children and often spreads in schools.
Parvovirus B19 only infects humans and cannot be transmitted to or from animals.
The name “slapped cheek” comes from the bright red rash that can appear on your child’s cheeks early in the illness.
The virus spreads through fluid droplets in coughs or sneezes. Children with fifth disease are usually contagious before the rash appears.
Signs and symptoms
Children often have mild symptoms at first, like:
- runny nose
- fever
- body aches.
Older children get joint pain or swelling.
A red rash then appears on the cheeks, and over the next few days will spread to the:
- arms
- legs
- body.
This rash can fade and reappear after:
- bathing
- being in the sun
- exercise or active play.
These symptoms usually go away in a few days, but may last longer.
Most children are not very sick, and the rash will clear in 7 to 10 days.
See your local doctor urgently if your child has been exposed to fifth disease and has:
- leukemia - cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow
- thalassaemia- an inherited genetic disorder that affects the blood
- other blood disorders.
Diagnosis
Doctors usually diagnose slapped cheek disease by looking at the rash.
In some cases, a blood test may be done to see if your child is immune or to confirm the infection.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for fifth disease. It usually goes away on its own.
The aim is to manage symptoms and prevent any complications with:
- rest
- plenty of fluids
- over-the-counter pain relief for fever, aches and pains.
Most people who have had fifth disease as a child cannot get it again.
Management
Fifth disease and pregnancy
In most cases, pregnant women and their babies are not seriously affected by Fifth disease. About half of all adults are already immune after having had the virus as a child.
If infection does happen, it usually causes only mild illness in the mother. In rare cases, the virus can cause:
- anaemia in the baby - low red blood cells
- miscarriage, especially if the infection happens early in pregnancy.
Fifth disease does not cause birth defects.
If you are worried, speak to your local doctor, midwife or obstetrician.
Resources and more information
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