Fifth disease is one of the common viral infections that occur in school children during winter. It causes pinkish red appearance on the cheeks which looks like someone has slapped the child. Some of the symptoms of fifth disease include skin rash, mild fever, and joint pain and slapped cheeks. It is contagious and spreads to other children easily. Often no treatment is required for this disease and anti-inflammatory drugs can be given.
In rare cases fifth disease viral infection can cause miscarriage in pregnant women. There were many skin rashes like measles, rubella, chicken pox, and rubella and roseola infantum in those days and since the new disease was placed in the fifth list, it was named as “fifth disease” which can be easily remembered.
How it spreads?
Fifth disease is highly contagious and spreads through air droplets of the infected child. Often a healthy child with good immunity will not develop this disease. The air particles would contain the droplets of infected virus which spreads to other children when the affected child coughs or sneezes. Pregnant women with low immunity can get affected which can cause severe anemia in the developing fetus and in rare cases abortion.
Causes :
It is the parvovirus B19 that causes fifth disease. The virus remains in the body of the host for certain period (5-14 days) during which there will be no symptoms for the child. But during this period, the child has every chance of spreading the infection. Once the rash begins to appear on his/her cheeks, the child will not become contagious. The viral infection is common during winter and spring.
Symptoms :