However, slapped cheek syndrome can be more serious for some people. If you're pregnant, have a blood disorder or a weakened immune system and have been exposed to the virus, you should get medical advice.
You may also have painful or swollen jointsPeople with fifth disease can also develop pain and swelling in their joints. This is called polyarthropathy syndrome. It is more common in adults, especially women. Some adults with fifth disease may only have painful joints, usually in the hands, feet, or knees, and no other symptoms. The joint pain usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks, but it can last for months or longer. It usually goes away without any long-term problems.
Slapped Cheek Symptoms In Adults
Fifth disease is usually mild and will go away on its own. Children and adults who are otherwise healthy usually recover completely. Treatment usually involves relieving symptoms, such as fever, itching, and joint pain and swelling.
Fifth disease is much more common in children, but it can happen in adults. Adults who get fifth disease often develop flu-like symptoms without the rash. Along with those symptoms, about 80% of adults also develop joint pain in the wrists, hands and knees.
Approximately 50-60% of people in the UK have had slapped cheek disease in the past, usually without realising it. You only have slapped cheek disease once in a lifetime. This is because you make antibodies during the infection which protect you from future infections with this same germ (virus).
A blood test is sometimes performed. This will show if you have slapped cheek disease and can also show if you have had this disease in the past. If you have had the disease in the past (even if you had it without developing any symptoms) then you will be immune to it. Testing is generally only carried out in pregnant women, or in people who have other medical conditions that reduce their immune system, not in healthy non-pregnant adults or in children.
Most pregnant women are immune to this germ (virus), or will not be seriously affected if they become infected by it. However, like some other viruses, the virus that causes slapped cheek disease can sometimes harm an unborn child. Miscarriage is more common in women who are infected with this virus before 20 weeks of pregnancy.
If you develop a rash during your pregnancy or come into contact with a person with a rash then you should seek medical advice. Your doctor will usually arrange for you to have a blood test to see if you have had slapped cheek disease in the past. If this is the case then you can be reassured and will not usually need other tests or treatment.
You can still go to school (or work) if you have slapped cheek disease, as you are only able to pass it on (are infectious) before you develop the rash. People infected with parvovirus B19 are considered non-infectious one day after the rash begins.
In older kids and adults, fifth disease might not cause the red cheek rash, but can cause joint swelling and pain that can last from weeks to months and, very rarely, years. But in time, it usually goes away without any lasting problems.
Slapped cheek syndrome or fifth disease is a viral infection most commonly affecting children aged between 3 and 15 years. Diagnosis is usually based on symptoms and clinical features which most commonly involves the appearance of a distinct blotchy red rash across the cheeks accompanied by a sore throat, fever, headaches and upset stomach.
In adult cases of infection, the symptom is typically joint pain and stiffness and the absence of the distinctive red cheeks means diagnosis may be missed at first in adults. To confirm diagnosis, a chest X-ray may be performed to check for infection and blood tested for antibodies to the virus.
There are no known vaccines that can protect against slapped cheek syndrome. The infection itself is mild and self remitting and usually resolves within a week without complications while providing the child with a lifelong immunity against the virus.
While Fifth Disease usually affects children, adults can get it, too, but it can look quite different. Symptoms in children are typically fever, mild itching, malaise, and headaches, in addition to the rash. Adults usually experience the same but more severe symptoms, and may also have joint soreness, inflammation, and swelling.
Fifth disease, slapped cheek syndrome, and erythema infectiosum. They all refer to the same thing: a common viral illness in kids caused by parvovirus B19 (not the same parvo that dogs get). When kids get sick, they tend to have worse symptoms than adults; higher fevers, more mucous, and weird rashes. Fifth disease is one example.
processing.... Drugs & Diseases > Dermatology Erythema Infectiosum Updated: Mar 06, 2020 Author: Glenn L Zellman, MD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD more...
Share Email Print Feedback Close Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp webmd.ads2.defineAd(id: 'ads-pos-421-sfp',pos: 421); Sections Erythema Infectiosum Sections Erythema Infectiosum Overview Practice Essentials
Background Pathophysiology Etiology Epidemiology Prognosis Patient Education Show All Presentation DDx Workup Approach Considerations
RIA and/or ELISA Show All Treatment Approach Considerations
Inpatient Care Monitoring Prevention Show All Medication Medication Summary
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) Antihistamines, 1st Generation Topical Skin Products Immune Globulins Show All Questions & Answers Media Gallery References Overview Practice Essentials Erythema infectiosum (also known as fifth disease) is usually a benign childhood condition characterized by a classic slapped-cheek appearance (see the image below) and lacy exanthem. [1] It results from infection with human parvovirus (PV) B19, an erythrovirus. [2, 3]
Erythema infectiosum (also known as fifth disease) is usually a benign childhood condition characterized by a classic slapped-cheek appearance and lacy exanthem. [1] It results from infection with human parvovirus (PV) B19, an erythrovirus. Human PV-B19 also is associated with other hematologic, rheumatologic, and neurologic conditions, including polyarthropathy, aplastic anemia, and hydrops fetalis. (See Etiology, Pathophysiology, and History and Physical Examination.)
Approximately 70% of erythema infectiosum cases occur in children aged 5-15 years, but the disease can develop at any age. [33] PV-B19 infection can lead to the classic symptoms of erythema infectiosum in adults but more often manifests as an acute arthropathy without cutaneous eruption.
processing.... Drugs & Diseases > Pediatrics: General Medicine Parvovirus B19 Infection Clinical Presentation Updated: Oct 11, 2019 Author: David J Cennimo, MD, FAAP, FACP, FIDSA, AAHIVS; Chief Editor: Russell W Steele, MD more...
Share Email Print Feedback Close Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp webmd.ads2.defineAd(id: 'ads-pos-421-sfp',pos: 421); Sections Parvovirus B19 Infection Sections Parvovirus B19 Infection Overview Background
Pathophysiology Epidemiology Show All Presentation History
Physical Causes Show All DDx Workup Laboratory Studies
Imaging Studies Show All Treatment Medical Care
Consultations Diet Activity Show All Medication Medication Summary
Antipyretic agents Immunologic effectors Antihistamines Show All Follow-up Further Outpatient Care
Further Inpatient Care Transfer Deterrence/Prevention Complications Prognosis Patient Education Show All Questions & Answers Media Gallery References Presentation History Common symptoms of parvovirus B19 (B19V) infection include a mild nonspecific prodromal illness that may consist of fever (15-30% of patients), malaise, headache, myalgia, nausea, and rhinorrhea; typically beginning 5-7 days after initial infection. [8, 28] These symptoms correspond to the initial viremia and dissipate in 2-3 days. [5] Approximately 1 week later, a bright red macular exanthem appears on the cheeks and is often associated with circumoral pallor. [9, 5] A diffuse maculopapular rash can appear 1-4 days later and fades to a lacy erythematous rash, which may be pruritic and may spread gradually toward the distal extremities. Most seropositive patients have no history of this classic biphasic illness. The clinical symptoms widely vary, and the classic "slapped cheek" rash is much more common in young children. [8] More recently, parvovirus B19 has been recognized as a cause of atypical rash illness in adults, [29] as well as a host of less common manifestations. [30]
Alternatively, parvovirus B19 infection may manifest with purpuric rash, erythema multiforme, or pruritus of the soles of the feet. Parvovirus B19 may cause a papular-purpuric "gloves-and-socks" syndrome (PPGSS), which manifests as an erythematous exanthem of the hands and feet with a distinct margin at the wrist and ankle joints. It is mainly seen in young adults and initially presents with painful erythema and induration of the hands and feet. Less commonly, the penis, vulva, thighs, cheeks, and elbows may be involved. This syndrome occurs exclusively with parvovirus B19 infection and is an uncommon manifestation. The skin changes may progress to petechia, purpura, and bulla with skin sloughing. PPGSS usually resolves in 1-3 weeks without scaring. [5, 6, 31, 32, 33]
Transient small joint arthropathy may be the main clinical presentation of parvovirus B19 in adults. Most have some joint pain, but few progress to frank arthritis. In general, the timing of joint symptoms coincide with the expected onset of rash in children. Arthritis usually improves in 1-3 weeks but may persist for months. Parvovirus B19 infection is not associated with chronic degenerative arthritis. [8, 2, 6] Less than 10% of children experience arthropathy; however, in those who do, the knees are most commonly involved. [9] 2ff7e9595c
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