Fifth disease is caused by a virus that leads to a rash on the cheeks, arms, and legs.
Parvovirus B19; Erythema infectiosum; Slapped cheek rash
Fifth disease is caused by human parvovirus B19. It often affects preschoolers or school-age children during the spring. The disease spreads through the fluids in the nose and mouth when someone coughs or sneezes.
The disease causes a tell-tale bright-red rash on the cheeks. The rash also spreads to the body and can cause other symptoms.
You can get fifth disease and not have any symptoms. About 20% of people who get the virus do not have symptoms.
Early symptoms of fifth disease include:
This is followed by a rash on the face and body:
Some people also have joint pain and swelling. This more commonly occurs in adult women.
There is no treatment for fifth disease. The virus will clear up on its own in a couple of weeks. If your child has joint pain or an itchy rash, talk with your child's provider about ways to ease symptoms. Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) for children can help relieve joint pain.
Janak Kishore practices in Lucknow, India. Kishore is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Fifth Disease. He is also highly rated in 6 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Fetal Parvovirus Syndrome, Fifth Disease, Parvovirus Antenatal Infection, Acquired Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.
Modra Murovska practices in Riga, Latvia. Murovska is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Fifth Disease. They are also highly rated in 6 other conditions, according to our data. Their top areas of expertise are Parvovirus Antenatal Infection, Fetal Parvovirus Syndrome, Fifth Disease, Kidney Transplant, and Bone Marrow Transplant.
Aivars Lejnieks practices in Riga, Latvia. Lejnieks is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Fifth Disease. They are also highly rated in 5 other conditions, according to our data. Their top areas of expertise are Parvovirus Antenatal Infection, Fifth Disease, Fetal Parvovirus Syndrome, and Milk-Alkali Syndrome.
Most children and adults have only mild symptoms and recover completely.
Fifth disease does not often cause complications in most people.
If you are pregnant and think you may have been exposed to someone with the virus, tell your provider. Usually there is no problem. Most pregnant women are immune to the virus. Your provider can test you to see if you are immune.
Women who are not immune most often only have mild symptoms. However, the virus can cause anemia in an unborn baby and even cause miscarriage. This is uncommon and occurs only in a small percentage of women. It is more likely in the first half of pregnancy.
There is also a higher risk for complications in people with:
Fifth disease can cause severe anemia, which will need treatment.
You should contact your provider if:
Summary: Although many studies investigated the prevalence and manifestations of HPV-B19 infection in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA), thalassemia, and hereditary spherocytosis (HS) separately, there is limited information about the extent to which HPV-B19 infection leads to severe complications and chronic infection.
Published Date: August 10, 2021
Published By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Brown KE. Human parvoviruses, including parvovirus B19V and human bocaparvoviruses. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 147.
Koch WC. Parvoviruses. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 278.
Michaels MG, Williams JV. Infectious diseases. In: Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 13.