Fifth Disease
Fifth Disease
Most people have heard of Measles, Mumps, and Chickenpox, but not everyone has heard of Fifth Disease until they have children in the schools.
Fifth Disease is a mild rash illness that usually occurs in late winter and early spring but may be present year round. It is characterized first by headace, body ache, sore throat, low-grade fever, and chills. These symptoms are usually mild and resolve after a few days. Then, following a week of no symptoms, a bright red rash appears on the cheeks giving a 'slapped face' appearance, sometimes with a 'lacy' rash on the arms and legs. The rash is not serious but can fade and recur for a few days or a few weeks, especially in response to changes in environmental temperature. Adults may not develop the rash but sometimes experience pains in the joints of their hands and feet. Approximately 25 percent of adults who contract the infection have no symptoms.
Although the illness is usually mild and, in many cases goes unnoticed, the virus has been associated with miscarriages and stillbirths if a pregnant woman acquires the illness during the first half of pregnancy. The risk of fetal death is less than 10 percent after proven maternal infection in the first half of pregnancy.
Individuals with Fifth Disease are probably contagious only from respiratory secretions early in the illness. Thus, by the time the rash appears, the individual is no longer contagious.
If you would like more information on Fifth Disease or on Fifth Disease and Pregnancy the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has some great fact sheets. Just click on the links below:
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