Fifth disease

Fifth disease is an infection caused by human parvovirus B19. The medical name of fifth disease is erythema infectiosum. The name fifth disease comes from being the fifth pink-red infectious rash that children typically get. The other infectious rashes are scarlet fever, measles, rubella, and rubeolla.

The human parvovirus B19 that causes fifth disease only infects humans. Dogs and cats may be immunized against parvovirus, but these are animal parvoviruses that do not infect humans. A person cannot catch human parvovirus from a dog or cat and an animal cannot catch the disease from an ill person. Once you have had fifth disease, you cannot get it again.

Almost all children get fifth disease and the majority are school age. Adults can get fifth disease if they are not immune from childhood. Adults may not have symptoms or may develop the typical rash of fifth disease, joint pain, or swelling. For both adults and children, the rash first appears on the cheeks, as though they have been slapped on the cheeks. This facial rash feels hot and sometimes itches. After a few days, the rash may spread to the upper body and arms in a lacy pattern and the person may feel tired. The lace-like rash may come and go for 5 weeks, especially after warm baths, exercise, and sun exposure. Adults who get fifth disease may develop joint pains, especially in the knees, which may last for 1 to 3 months. These adults should seek the advice of their healthcare provider. Although many people have no symptoms other than the rash, the disease can last from a few days to several weeks.

Fifth disease is spread by tiny droplets of secretions from the nose and throat of someone who has the infection. The droplets are spread when the infected person sneezes or coughs or puts their hands on their face and then on another person. People can pass fifth disease on to others for an entire week before the rash even appears. The person exposed to fifth disease usually does not get ill for 4 to 14 days after being exposed. After the rash appears, the person is no longer contagious.

Frequent hand washing is recommended to decrease the chance of becoming infected. Fifth disease does not require treatment. The rash causes no symptoms that need treatment. Once the rash appears, a person can return to work or school.

Fifth disease poses a risk to developing fetuses in the first half of pregnancy. Before birth, some fetuses infected with fifth disease will develop complications such as severe anemia. There is a 10 percent chance of miscarriage. If someone has been exposed to fifth disease, they should avoid contact with all pregnant women.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File INFE4735.rf2 VRS# 4735 Data Version 7.0 Copyright 1999, 2002-2003 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.