health

Signs and symptoms
The first symptoms of fifth disease are similar
to those of a common cold and include low fever, a runny or stuffy nose,
sore throat, cough, headache, diarrhea, and fatigue. During this early
period fifth disease is most contagious. After a few days, especially in children,
the slapped-cheek rash usually first appears on the face, and it soon
begins to involve the rest of the body in a pink, lacy-looking pattern. Not
everyone with fifth disease develops this rash, but it is much more likely to
appear in children under 10 years of age. For some people the rash fades
and reappears if triggered by heat, exercise, stress, or exposure to the sun.
Sometimes the rash itches, and adults in particular may experience pain
and swelling of the joints in the hands, or the wrists, knees, or ankles.

Diagnosis In children,
doctors can usually diagnose fifth disease simply
by looking for the telltale rash on the face and body. In cases in which
there is no rash, blood tests can confirm the presence of parvovirus B19.

Treatment Most people with fifth disease do not require treatment.
Antibiotics do not help because the illness is caused by a virus rather
than bacteria. Symptoms such as fever or joint pain may be treated with
acetaminophen.
The rash clears up on its own, often within one to three weeks. Joint
pain and swelling can take longer to go away, sometimes up to several
months. People with joint pain may need to rest and restrict their activities
until they feel better.
People with blood disorders or immune deficiencies who develop
severe anemia as a result of fifth disease may require blood transfusion*
and other specialized medical care.

Complications
The vast majority of people who are infected with
parvovirus B19 recover completely without any complications. Severe
anemia, the complication most often associated with fifth disease, usually
affects people with weakened immune systems or blood disorders
and, rarely, unborn babies who were infected during the first half of
pregnancy.
In healthy people, parvovirus B19 infection can sometimes affect the
ability of the bone marrow (the soft tissue inside bones where blood cells
are made) to make new red blood cells, but this effect is usually temporary
and does not cause significant anemia or other problems.