Fifth disease | Parvovirus infection | Slapped-cheek disease

 

Fifth disease is generally a temporary bright red skin rash which appears after the exposure of parvovirus B19 virus. This disease mostly affects children but it can also affect adults. After the infection of several days, this disease usually goes away on its own.

Fifth disease is also a erythema infectiosum which is a childhood condition that usually looks like a bright red rash on your children’s cheeks. The nickname of this disease is called slapped cheek disease because of this rash. The cause of Fifth disease is parvovirus B19 virus. This type of virus is very common and contagious. People who got infected can spread the infection through coughing or sneezing.

In most cases of this erythema infectiosum disease is not a serious health problem. Usually, this infection can go away with minimal or no treatment.

Generally, the fifth disease was named because it was the fifth viral skin rash that affected the children in a list of six health conditions. The list includes:

• Measles.

• Scarlet fever.

• Rubella (German measles).

• Dukes’ disease.

• Erythema infectiosum (fifth disease).

• Roseola.

Fifth disease comes under the six types of viral rashes in children. Typically, this infection affects children between the ages of 5 to 15 years, particularly in the seasons like spring and summer months.

But this fifth disease will affect the adults but this is very rare. Once you are exposed to the parvovirus B19 virus, your body’s immune system helps to build the defences to fight against the virus. This means that if you had a fifth disease in your childhood, you will likely build immunity to it as you grow old. Most adults had a fifth disease in their childhood period.

Symptoms of fifth disease

This parvovirus B19 infection usually starts with flu-like symptoms that are usually mild. During this period of time, the virus is very contagious. Symptoms are:

• Fatigue.

• Headaches.

• Achiness.

• Low-grade fever (99° to 101° F or 37° to 38.5° C).

• Runny nose.

• Sore throat.

But 20% of children who got parvovirus B19 infection do not have these symptoms. Still, they pass the virus or infection to others.

But it takes several days after the flu-like symptoms raise, bright red rash will show up on your children’s face.  But these rashes might be itchy. Typically, childrens do not have no longer flu-like symptoms once you get the rashes in your cheeks.

In some cases of fifth disease, you might experience a second rash which usually develops after the cheek rash.  second rash usually looks like “lacey” and it may appear on your children’s:

• Arms.

• Legs.

• Trunk (chest and back).

• Buttocks.

But almost 10% of children with fifth disease infection can experience joint pain and swelling.

Causes of fifth disease

Human parvovirus that can also be known as parvovirus B19 that usually causes the fifth disease. But this can be different from the parvovirus which affects dogs and cats. Fifth disease will show the red rash after the 4 to 15 days of your child is infected with parvovirus B19.

Diagnosis

Your healthcare professional usually diagnoses the fifth disease based on your symptoms.

The strong sign of this infection is “slapped cheek”. When it is associated with flu-like symptoms, your child’s physician will diagnose the fifth disease in their clinic without any other specific test. In some rare cases, your provider may order blood tests to confirm the fifth disease.

Treatment

Fifth disease symptoms usually go away in a few weeks with the help of minimal or without any treatment. Your provider will recommend counter pain relievers which treat fever, headaches and joint pain. Medicines are: 

• Acetaminophen.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen.

You should follow the dosage instructions carefully. If your child has a low immune system and is infected with a fifth disease, they will need treatment in a hospital.

Complications

Fifth disease in healthy children and adults, very rarely causes complications. But this health condition will cause problems for people who are affected with blood disorders or weakened immune systems. Because, this virus can affect the way your body makes red blood cells. But it can also cause your children’s red blood cell count which drops so low that they need a blood transfusion.

Children and also adults with the following health issues are at highest risk of complications:

• Cancer like leukemia.

• HIV.

• anemia, like sickle cell anemia and thalassemia.

• A transplanted organ.

If your child faces any of these health problems, contact their healthcare professionals as soon as the fifth disease rash appears or if they face flu-like symptoms that usually come before the rash.

About 10% of adults who are infected with parvovirus B19 infection will develop chronic parvovirus that is associated arthritis in several joints or polyarthritis. 

Prevention

There is no vaccine to prevent the fifth disease infection. Because this parvovirus spreads easily through nasal and mouth droplets, practising good hygiene is the best way to prevent the infection. You can reduce the risk of family members infection by:

• frequently Wash your hands thoroughly.

• Whenever you Sneeze or cough, you should cover your mouth into the crook of your elbow.

• You must Avoid having close contact with an infected person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the starting symptoms of fifth disease?

Ans: Fifth disease is a viral illness that causes a bright red rash on the cheeks.

Q2. Why do kids get fifth disease?

Ans: Parvovirus B19—which causes fifth disease—spreads through respiratory secretions, such as saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus, when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Q3. How do you treat fifth disease rash?

Ans: There is no treatment for fifth disease. The virus will clear up on its own in a couple of weeks.

Q4. What age is fifths disease?

Ans: Slapped cheek is common and usually affects children between the ages of four and 10 years, but can happen at any age.

Q5. How do babies get parvovirus?

Ans: A pregnant woman who is infected with parvovirus B19 can pass the virus to her baby.