Your Health

Getting to Know Fifth Disease or Slapped Cheek Syndrome   by Jelie Osorio

Fifth disease or erythema infectiosum (EI) is one among several probable manifestations of an infection brought about by the erythrovirus (formerly known as “parvovirus B19). Other terms for this disease are:

. Slapcheek
. Slapped cheek syndrome
. Slapped face
. Slap face
. “ringo-byou” or “apple sickness”

The disease can be seen in kids aged 5 to 14 years old mostly during the spring and winter seasons. The terms given to this illness evolve around the fact that the child’s face features a reddish rash. It belongs to the five most common rashes with others being roseola, German Measles, Chicken Pox and measles.

How does this virus spread?

It spreads through droplets in the air which are from respiratory secretions like sneezes and coughs as well as from the blood of infected people. In the early onset of the disease, nasal secretions feature viral DNA. Aside from DNA, viral particles can also be found in the blood.

Fifth disease cases occur either as part of a community outbreak or sporadically. Children are the ones prone to this illness. For adults, when they get infected, it is unlikely for them to get re-infected.

Is fifth disease contagious?

Yes, prior to the onset of the systems, the illness is contagious. However, after the development of rashes, it is no longer contagious. From the time you can acquire the infection to the time of symptom development, it usually takes 4 to 14 days.

What are the signs and symptoms of fifth disease?

. Fever
. Nasal congestion and drainage
. Fatigue
. Sore throat
. Headache
. Muscle aches

These symptoms would be present for several days and after 7 to days, a bright red facial rash would appear. This fades after 4 days.

Then a light pink rash would start on the arms spreading to the thighs, buttocks and the trunk. These would fade gradually in a lace-like pattern before clearing completely.

Fifth disease is a mild illness for kids which usually go away without any need for specific treatment. Doctors don’t need to conduct any tests to diagnose this condition. They can determine fifth disease from the classic rash itself. Though the disease itself is mild in nature, there are noted risks for certain groups.

In pregnant women, getting this illness during the first trimester of pregnancy is being linkedto “hydrops fetalis”. It supposedly causes spontaneous abortion.

For people suffering from sickle-cell disease and other types of hemolytic anemia like hereditary sphrerocytosis, the condition is known to precipitate “aplastic crisis”.

Treating Fifth Disease
Home treatment is usually prescribed for patients with fifth disease. Doctors would advise the following to relieve the symptoms:

. Drinking lots of fluids
. Taking acetaminophen and avoiding aspirin. Acetaminophen like Tylenol can control the fever while aspirin can put a child with fever at risk in developing Reye syndrome.
. Washing your hands and taking care not to spread the virus.

About the Author

Knowing what causes fifth disease may help determine possible ways to treat or relieve the symptoms of this illness. There is no need to worry because fifth disease is a common and mild diseases that usually goes away by itself.
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