Fifth disease is an illness caused by a virus that leads to a rash on the cheeks, arms, and legs.
Alternative NamesParvovirus B19; Erythema infectiosum; Slapped cheek
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsFifth disease is caused by human parvovirus B19. It often affects preschoolers or school-age children during the spring. The disease is spread by contact with respiratory secretions and usually return for 5 days. However, the rash associated with fifth disease may return for several weeks. Return of the rash may be brought on by sunlight, heat, exercise, fever, or emotional stress.
The first sign of the disease is usually bright red cheeks, which look as though the child has been recently slapped on both sides of the face. Following this, a rash appears on the arms and legs and middle of the body. The rash fades from the center outwards, giving it a lacy appearance. Over a period of 1 to 2 weeks, the rash completely goes away.
Fifth disease is also sometimes associated with fever.
If a pregnant woman becomes infected with parvovirus B19, it can cause significant harm to her unborn baby. Any pregnant woman who believes that she may have been in contact with a person who has this virus should talk to her health care provider.
Parvovirus B19 is also thought to cause other diseases, including an infectious form of Arthritis.
The majority of adults seem to have antibodies to parvovirus B19 in their bodies. This indicates that most people have been exposed to the virus, and also suggests that many infections go unnoticed.
SymptomsFifth disease causes a very distinct rash. Your health care provider will examine the appearance and pattern of the rash. This is usually all that is needed to make a diagnosis.
Blood tests that look for antibodies against parvovirus B19 may indicate infection. However, these tests are usually not needed, although they may be helpful in the diagnosis of aplastic crisis and persistent anemia.
Testing may also be done when there is a question of whether a pregnant woman has been exposed to the virus.
TreatmentNo treatment is usually required for fifth disease in children. If fever or joint discomfort is present then oral acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) may be given.
Expectations (prognosis)Since this is a mild and generally benign viral infection, complete recovery can be expected.
ComplicationsThere are generally no complications in normally healthy children.
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if your child has symptoms of this disease. Other disorders can cause similar symptoms and should be ruled out.
Fifth disease is an illness caused by a virus that leads to a rash on the cheeks, arms, and legs.
Alternative NamesParvovirus B19; Erythema infectiosum; Slapped cheek
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsFifth disease is caused by human parvovirus B19. It often affects preschoolers or school-age children during the spring. The disease is spread by contact with respiratory secretions and usually return for 5 days. However, the rash associated with fifth disease may return for several weeks. Return of the rash may be brought on by sunlight, heat, exercise, fever, or emotional stress.
The first sign of the disease is usually bright red cheeks, which look as though the child has been recently slapped on both sides of the face. Following this, a rash appears on the arms and legs and middle of the body. The rash fades from the center outwards, giving it a lacy appearance. Over a period of 1 to 2 weeks, the rash completely goes away.
Fifth disease is also sometimes associated with fever.
If a pregnant woman becomes infected with parvovirus B19, it can cause significant harm to her unborn baby. Any pregnant woman who believes that she may have been in contact with a person who has this virus should talk to her health care provider.
Parvovirus B19 is also thought to cause other diseases, including an infectious form of arthritis.
The majority of adults seem to have antibodies to parvovirus B19 in their bodies. This indicates that most people have been exposed to the virus, and also suggests that many infections go unnoticed.
SymptomsFifth disease causes a very distinct rash. Your health care provider will examine the appearance and pattern of the rash. This is usually all that is needed to make a diagnosis.
Blood tests that look for antibodies against parvovirus B19 may indicate infection. However, these tests are usually not needed, although they may be helpful in the diagnosis of aplastic crisis and persistent anemia.
Testing may also be done when there is a question of whether a pregnant woman has been exposed to the virus.
TreatmentNo treatment is usually required for fifth disease in children. If fever or joint discomfort is present, then oral acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) may be given.
Expectations (prognosis)Since this is a mild and generally benign viral infection, complete recovery can be expected.
ComplicationsThere are generally no complications in normally healthy children.
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if your child has symptoms of this disease. Other disorders can cause similar symptoms and should be ruled out.
ReferencesKoch WC. Parvovirus B19. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 243.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 08/02/2011
Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
fifth disease doesn't have swollen cheeks
Ultrasound is used to diagnose fetal fifth disease.
fifth disease
Fifth disease is a viral illness caused by parvovirus B19. Fifth disease is also known as "erythema infectiosum" and "slapped cheek disease." The clinical illness was described in the 1880s and was named fifth disease because of its "fifth" position in the numerical classification of childhood illnesses associated with rashes (exanthems).Fifth disease is caused by a virus.Symptoms include low fever, fatigue, a "slapped cheeks rash," joint aches, and a whole-body rash.Diagnosis is made based on clinical features.Rarely, fifth disease can have complications.Fifth disease in pregnant women can cause a miscarriage.
Erythema infectiousum is called fifth disease because at the time it was discovered it was the fifth most common cause of rash in children.
Parvovirus B19 most commonly causes fifth disease, a rash illness.
Blood tests are used to diagnose maternal antibodies against CMV or fifth disease.
The name Fifth disease originated in 1905, when a French physician assigned numbers to the common childhood diseases characterized by rashes. For example, measles was "first disease," scarlet fever was "second disease," rubella was "third disease," and so on. Eventually, the numerical names for these diseases were replaced, except in the case of fifth disease, which remains today.
Infectious disease.
Fifth disease is similar to chicken pox or other type viral infections. It is most commonly seen in children but some adults can be affected. A hallmark of the condition is a lacy type rash that starts on the trunk and spreads to the limbs. Typically the rash lasts only a couple of days or so but can reoccur. Especially in adults severe body aches are common.
About one-third of infants whose mothers contract fifth disease during pregnancy show signs of infection at birth.
The common age for someone to obtain fifth disease is around the age of five and fifteen years old for children who obtain the disease, it does not occur into someone's later years.