Fifth disease pregnancy : Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Parvovirus B19 Infection, or Fifth Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Parvovirus B19 infection, or "fifth disease," is primarily characterized by a rash. What are its symptoms? How is it treated?
What is Parvovirus B19 infection or "fifth disease"?
Viral infection caused by human parvovirus B19 is also called fifth disease, erythema infectiosum, or erythema infectiosum. It is a contagious, usually mild infection that occurs most frequently in late winter and early spring.
It is most often characterized by the appearance of a rash, flu-like symptoms, and joint pain.
How is Parvovirus B19 infection transmitted?
This infection is transmitted through the respiratory tract by inhaling small droplets, viral particles released into the air by an infected person when they cough or sneeze. It can also be transmitted when someone touches a person or object contaminated by the virus and then puts their fingers in their mouth.
More rarely, erythema infectiosum can also be transmitted through the bloodstream, particularly through blood transfusions.
Symptoms of Parvovirus B19 Infection
Symptoms of Parvovirus B19 infection are usually mild, and up to 25% of adults and children infected with the virus experience no symptoms.
How does erythema epidermis manifest in children?
Among children affected by the symptoms, the initial symptoms include reddening of the cheeks and a rash. This is specifically referred to as a "gloves and socks" papulo-purpuric rash, characterized by palpable blood flow under the skin on the extremities, accompanied by red patches of skin and painful swelling.
"Don't panic when you see a rash. It often appears on the cheeks, legs, and arms and disappears spontaneously within 7 to 10 days of its onset."
Symptoms may be more severe or intense in children with anemia or sickle cell disease.
How does erythema infectiosum manifest in adults?
Most adults have been immunized against the disease since childhood. When this is not the case, they may experience some symptoms.
In 50% of cases, they, like children, may experience a rash.
Children, like adults, infected with erythema infectiosum are contagious a few days before the appearance of this characteristic rash.
Adults may also experience mild joint pain (non-erosive arthritis) and a feeling of swelling (in 70% of cases). These joint symptoms are particularly common in women (mainly in the hands, wrists, ankles, and knees).
Headaches, sore throats, and stomach pain may also occur.
The intensity of symptoms varies from person to person. However, some are more at risk than others. These include:
- People with autoimmune diseases, such as AIDS, type 1 diabetes, or multiple sclerosis
- Pregnant women
