Want more iVillage? Sign up for our
Newsletters
Fifth Disease - Topic Overview
SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS
What is fifth disease?
Fifth disease is a very common childhood illness. Adults can get it too. It is sometimes called “slapped-cheek disease” because of the rash that some people get on the face. You spread the disease by coughing and sneezing.
As a rule, people can spread fifth disease only while they have flu-like symptoms and before they get a rash. Some people who have fifth disease, such as those who have certain blood disorders or weak immune systems, may be able to spread the disease for a longer time.
What causes fifth disease?
Fifth disease is caused by a virus called human parvovirus B19.
What are the symptoms?
Early symptoms are similar
to the flu—runny nose, sore throat, headache—and may be so mild that you don't
notice them. The
rash 
comes several days later, first on the face and
later over the rest of the body. The rash usually fades within 5 days.
Some people, usually adults, also get pain in their joints. This can last for several weeks or even months. Some people may also have a headache.
Not all people with fifth disease get a rash or feel sick.
How is fifth disease diagnosed?
Your doctor can diagnose fifth disease by doing a physical exam and asking questions about your medical history. Fifth disease is easier to diagnose if you have the rash.
How is it treated?
Most people can treat this illness at home with rest, fluids, and pain relievers. Fifth disease usually goes away after a few weeks.
For a few weeks, the rash may come back when you are out in the sun, get too warm, or are under stress. This does not mean the disease is worse.
By the time the rash appears, you can no longer spread the disease to anyone else. As soon as your child gets a rash, he or she may return to school or day care.
If you are pregnant or have a weak immune system or certain blood disorders, see your doctor. Fifth disease can cause problems for the fetus of a pregnant woman, but this is not common.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning about fifth disease: | |
Being diagnosed: | |
Getting treatment: | |
Ongoing concerns: |
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: April 27, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | John Pope, MD - Pediatrics Christine Hahn, MD - Epidemiology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
Welcome to Care Circle, an exclusive tool to help you take care of yourself and your loved ones. Here's how it works:
- Create profiles for yourself and your loved ones.
- Select the topics and conditions that interest each of you.
- Get customized news updates, original content, tools, and expert advice for each Care Circle member delivered directly to your personalized homepage.
The information you input is strictly private; you choose who has access to your Care Circle.
How do I add myself or someone else to my care circle?
Click on "Add someone." Fill out the short profile. Choose an avatar. Select the topics and conditions that interest this person from the pulldown menu. You can select as many as you want, but you must choose at least one. Click on "Add Someone" again. You should start getting updates immediately.
How do I save content to my Care Circle?
Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab of the person for whom you're saving content. Put your cursor over the piece of content that you want to save; a disk icon will appear in the righthand corner. Click on the disk and the piece of content will be moved to a save folder.
How do I add additional topics and conditions for someone in my Care Circle?
Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab for the person whose preferences you'd like to update. Under "Add More to Follow," select additional topics and conditions.
How do I delete topics and conditions for someone in my Care Circle?
Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab for the person whose preferences you'd like to update. Under "Follows," scroll over the topic or condition you want to delete. An "X" should appear on the righthand side. Click on the "X" and the topic or condition will be deleted from the list.
To manage your Care Circle, Please
Sign In.
from
- 9 nastiest things in your supermarket
- Facebook is now fueling organ donations
- Military women and suicide: Home safe but not sound
- Still in gear: Injuries don’t stop veterans on 100-day bike trek
- Ask Jenna: I've hit a weight loss plateau. What do I do?
- He poses in a tutu to laugh in face of wife's cancer
The iVillage Network