Fifth Disease

1/31/2008

Fifth disease is a common and benign infection for children that most often occurs in the spring. It’s so common that by adulthood most people have been exposed to it, whether they ever shown symptoms or not. It’s called fifth disease because it was once one of the five infectious rashes most children suffered.

The infection is caused by human parvovirus B19, and spread by droplets of moisture from the breath. It takes from four to fourteen days from infection for the disease to develop, and it generally lasts five to ten days.

Fifth disease is pretty easy to identify in children. It begins with distinct round areas on both cheeks that look like the child has been slapped. Then a lacy rash spreads to the trunk and extremities. Typically the palms and soles of the feet remain rash-free. By the time the rash appears, the child is no longer contagious to others and can go back to school.

In most people fifth disease symptoms vary from none to the rash with mild feeling of illness and maybe a low fever. Occasionally, it can cause joint inflammation and limping or anemia. These problems, however, are only temporary, and leave no after-effects. The rash may also reappear briefly over the next few weeks in response to sunlight, heat, exercise and other minor stresses.

The only significant risk of fifth disease is to pregnant women. If a woman has not developed immunity due to previous exposure to the disease, exposure while pregnant can in rare cases cause anemia in her developing child and possibly stillbirth. Most women have natural immunity at the time of pregnancy, but any pregnant woman with a rash suspected of being fifth disease should see her obstetrician immediately for diagnosis and monitoring. If your child’s teacher is of childbearing age, be sure to notify her if she may have been exposed to fifth disease.