Posted by MrsTC
Posted by am470
fifth's disease
what is this?
i really hope you feel better soon! ![]()
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Fifth disease (erythema infectiosum) is a viral illness caused by parvovirus B19. It's especially common in children between the ages of 5 and 15 and usually produces a distinctive red rash on the face, body, arms, and legs. Parvovirus B19 is a human virus - it is not the same parvovirus that veterinarians may be concerned about in pets (especially dogs) and cannot be passed from humans to animals or vice versa.
Fifth disease occurs everywhere in the world. Outbreaks of parvovirus tend to happen in the late winter and early spring, but there may also be sporadic cases of disease any time throughout the year.
Studies show that between 40% to 60% of adults worldwide have laboratory evidence of a past parvovirus B19 infection, but most of these adults cannot remember having had symptoms of fifth disease. This leads medical experts to believe that most people with a B19 infection have either very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.
Signs and Symptoms
Fifth disease begins with a low-grade fever, headache, and mild cold-like symptoms (a stuffy or runny nose). These symptoms pass, and the illness seems to be gone, until a rash appears a few days later. The bright red rash typically begins on the face and gives the child a 'slapped-cheek' appearance. Several days later, the rash spreads and red blotches (usually lighter in color) extend down to the trunk, arms, and legs. The rash usually spares the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. As the centers of the blotches begin to clear, the rash takes on a lacy net-like appearance. Children younger than 10 years of age are most likely to get the rash.
Older children and adults sometimes complain that the rash itches, but most children with a rash caused by fifth disease do not look sick and no longer have fever. It may take 1 to 3 weeks for the rash to completely clear, and during that time it may seem to worsen until it finally fades away entirely.
Certain stimuli may reactivate the rash until it completely fades, including sunlight, heat, exercise, and stress. Other symptoms that sometimes occur with fifth disease include swollen glands, red eyes, sore throat, diarrhea, and unusual rashes that look like blisters or bruises.
In some cases, especially in adults and older teens, an attack of fifth disease may be followed by joint swelling or pain. The hands, wrists, knees, and ankles are the body joints affected most often by parvovirus infection.
Contagiousness
Fifth disease is highly contagious. A person with parvovirus infection is most contagious before the rash appears - either during the incubation period (the time between infection and the onset of symptoms) or during the time when he has only mild respiratory symptoms. Because the rash of fifth disease is an immune reaction (a defense response launched by the body against foreign substances like germs) after the infection passes, a child is usually not contagious once the rash appears.
Parvovirus B19 spreads easily from person to person in fluids from the nose, mouth, and throat of someone with the infection, especially via large droplets from coughs and sneezes. It can also be spread through shared drinking glasses and utensils.
In households where a child has fifth disease, another family member who hasn't previously had parvovirus B19 has a 50% chance of also getting the infection. Classmates of children with fifth disease have a 60% chance of getting the virus. Once someone is infected with parvovirus B19, they develop immunity to it and will not usually become infected again.
Parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy may cause problems for the unborn child. Some fetuses may develop severe anemia if the mother is infected while pregnant - especially if the infection occurs during the first half of the pregnancy. In some cases, this anemia is so severe that the fetus does not survive. Fortunately, about half of all pregnant women are immune from having had a previous infection with parvovirus. Serious problems occur in less than 5% of women who become infected during pregnancy.
