Fifth Disease

The Fifth Disease, also known as erythema infectiosum, is a viral infection that can affect children as well as adults, although children under 10 are more likely to get the rash.. It’s characterized by a very distinctive red rash that appears on the face. For this reason, it’s also called ‘slapped cheek syndrome‘. After a short period of time, the rash expands to other areas, typically trunk and extremities (both upper and lower). It’s not considered dangerous, but it is contagious.

Causes Of Fifth Disease

The Fifth disease is caused by the Human Parvovirus B-19 virus. It is useful to know that this is a human virus and that it has nothing to do with the animal parvovirus that affects dogs and other pets. These parvoviruses are unable to jump the barrier between species, so human parvovirus cannot infect pets and animal parvovirus cannot infect humans.

Symptoms Of Fifth Disease

Fifth disease symptoms depend on the stage of the infection. It begins with a mild fever, runny nose and headache, all of which resemble the symptoms of a common cold. These symptoms will go away in a day or two, giving the sensation that the ‘cold’ passed. However, a skin rash appears a few days later, which is the most widely known manifestation of this illness.

This red rash first affects the face, but as days go by and the infection evolves it spreads into other areas of the body, typically the arms, legs and trunk. The palms of the hands and the soles of the feet are usually not affected.

After a period that varies from one to three weeks since the infection began, the red areas of the skin begin to return to normal from the center, until they disappear completely.
The fifth disease does not produce sickness and, after the initial stage, there is no more fever. However, the rash may cause itch.

In some cases, the fifth disease may cause swollen glands, joint pain, red eyes, diarrhea, bruise-like or blister-like rashes and sore throat, but this is rare.
The fifth disease can have very bad complications on pregnant women, especially during the first four months. In severe cases the fetus suffers such an anemia that it cannot survive.

Treatment Of Fifth Disease

In most cases, there is no need for treatment against the fifth disease. Usually the only treatment needed is rest. The rash may cause discomfort, so a topic ointment or cream may be prescribed by the doctor. If there is joint pain present, the doctor may prescribe pain relieve medication.

Prevention Of Fifth Disease

There is no vaccine available for the prevention of the fifth disease. Worse yet, the virus spreads through air, so there is no effective way to stop its spread. Besides, by the time the rash appears the patient is no longer contagious.

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