{"id":15349,"date":"2020-09-08T09:00:08","date_gmt":"2020-09-08T13:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=15349"},"modified":"2020-09-04T15:01:24","modified_gmt":"2020-09-04T19:01:24","slug":"fifth-disease-in-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/fifth-disease-in-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"How to identify\u2014and treat\u2014fifth disease (parvo) in kids"},"content":{"rendered":"

Endless coughs and sneezes, runny noses, and unexplained itchy bumps\u2014kids seem to be a magnet for germs. In our parent’s guide to childhood illnesses, we talk about the symptoms and treatments for the most common conditions. Read the full series <\/span><\/i>here<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

What is fifth disease? <\/a>| Symptoms <\/a>| Diagnosis <\/a>| Treatments <\/a>| Prevention <\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n

As an adult, I was checked for immunity to fifth disease. Despite working in daycare, I had never heard of it. It turned out I was immune from a past infection\u2014even though I (nor my parents) never knew I had it as a child.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fifth disease is very common in children, and usually mild, but in rare circumstances, it can cause complications. So, it\u2019s important to know the signs of fifth disease\u2014and what to do if you think your child has it.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is fifth disease?<\/h2>\n

\u200b\u200bFifth disease, also called erythema infectiosum, is a common and usually mild illness in childhood. It\u2019s called fifth disease because it\u2019s number five in a historical list of childhood rash illnesses (the other four being measles, rubella, chicken pox, and roseola).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is caused by a human parvovirus B19 infection. \u201cMost children are exposed and develop antibodies to parvovirus B19,\u201d says Leann Poston, MD, a medical contributor for Ikon Health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fifth disease is contagious to both children and adults, but it is more common in <\/span>children ages 5 to 15<\/span><\/a>. Adults who have not had a previous fifth disease infection and who<\/span> work with children<\/span><\/a> (such as child care providers and<\/span> teachers<\/span><\/a>) are also at a higher risk of catching it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How does a child get fifth disease?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Fifth disease spreads through droplets of an infected person (from speaking, sneezing, coughing, saliva, etc.). It can also be transmitted through blood, including from mother to fetus. Serious complications do not occur in most pregnancies affected by fifth disease, and fetal death from fifth disease is rare.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fifth disease can be contracted or spread at<\/span> any time of year<\/span><\/a>, but outbreaks tend to be more common in<\/span> winter and spring<\/span><\/a>. Fifth disease is usually not serious. \u201cMany people with fifth disease are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms,\u201d says<\/span> Soma Mandal<\/span><\/a>, MD and board certified internist at<\/span> Summit Medical Group<\/span><\/a>. \u201cMost people recover in a few weeks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Because fifth disease can affect<\/span> how the body makes red blood cells<\/span><\/a>, it can be serious for people with a compromised immune system, such as people with HIV or leukemia, or for people who have types of <\/span>sickle cell disease<\/span><\/a> like sickle cell anemia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fifth disease symptoms<\/h2>\n

After contracting fifth disease, the incubation period is <\/span>about two weeks<\/span><\/a> before symptoms appear. It is most contagious during the first stage when cold-like symptoms are present, before the skin rash appears. Once the rash appears, most people are no longer contagious and can<\/span> go to school<\/span><\/a>, daycare, or work.<\/span><\/p>\n

The initial symptoms of fifth disease<\/span> include<\/span><\/a> cold-like symptoms that last for <\/span>seven to 10 days<\/span><\/a>, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n