symptoms of fifth disease
What does fifth disease look like?
What are the symptoms of fifth disease?
The initial symptoms of fifth disease are very general. They may resemble symptoms of the flu. Symptoms often include:
- headache
- fatigue
- low-grade fever
- sore throat
- nausea
- runny nose
- stuffy nose
According to American Academy of Family Physicians, symptoms tend to appear 4 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. After a few days of having these symptoms, most young people develop a red rash that first appears on the cheeks. The rash often spreads to the arms, legs, and trunk of the body within a few days. The rash may last for weeks. However, by the time you see it, you’re usually no longer contagious.
The rash is more likely to appear in children than in adults. In fact, the main symptom adults usually experience is joint pain. Joint pain can last for several weeks and is usually most prominent in the wrists, ankles, and knees.
The initial symptoms of fifth disease are very general. They may resemble symptoms of the flu. Symptoms often include:
- headache
- fatigue
- low-grade fever
- sore throat
- nausea
- runny nose
- stuffy nose
According to American Academy of Family Physicians, symptoms tend to appear 4 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. After a few days of having these symptoms, most young people develop a red rash that first appears on the cheeks. The rash often spreads to the arms, legs, and trunk of the body within a few days. The rash may last for weeks. However, by the time you see it, you’re usually no longer contagious.
The rash is more likely to appear in children than in adults. In fact, the main symptom adults usually experience is joint pain. Joint pain can last for several weeks and is usually most prominent in the wrists, ankles, and knees.
How is fifth disease diagnosed?
Doctors can often make the diagnosis by simply looking at your the rash. Your doctor may test you for specific antibodies if you’re likely to face serious consequences from fifth disease. This is especially true if you’re pregnant or have a compromised immune system.
Doctors can often make the diagnosis by simply looking at your the rash. Your doctor may test you for specific antibodies if you’re likely to face serious consequences from fifth disease. This is especially true if you’re pregnant or have a compromised immune system.
How is fifth disease treated?
For most healthy people, no treatment is necessary. If your joints hurt or you have a headache or fever, you may be advised to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) as needed to relieve these symptoms. Otherwise, you’ll need to wait for your body to fight off the virus. This usually takes one to three weeks.
You can help the process along by drinking a lot of fluids and getting extra rest. Children can often return to school once the red rash appears since they’re no longer contagious.
In rare instances, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) can be administered. It’s reserved for severe, life-threatening cases.
For most healthy people, no treatment is necessary. If your joints hurt or you have a headache or fever, you may be advised to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) as needed to relieve these symptoms. Otherwise, you’ll need to wait for your body to fight off the virus. This usually takes one to three weeks.
You can help the process along by drinking a lot of fluids and getting extra rest. Children can often return to school once the red rash appears since they’re no longer contagious.
In rare instances, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) can be administered. It’s reserved for severe, life-threatening cases.
What can be expected in the long term?
Fifth disease has no long-term consequences for most healthy people. However, if your immune system is weakened due to HIV, chemotherapy, or other conditions, you’ll likely need to be under a doctor’s care as your body attempts to fight off fifth disease.
You’ll likely need medical attention if you have any type of anemia in particular. This is because fifth disease can stop your body from producing red blood cells (RBCs), which can reduce the amount of oxygen that your tissue gets. This is especially likely in people with sickle cell anemia. If you have sickle cell anemia, you should see a doctor right away after being exposed to fifth disease.
Fifth disease can harm your unborn baby, so it can be dangerous to develop the condition if you’re pregnant. Fifth disease can also lead to anemia in your unborn child, which can be life-threatening for them.
If necessary, your doctor may offer you a blood transfusion to help protect your unborn child. According to the March of Dimes, other pregnancy-related complications may include:
- heart failure
- miscarriage
- stillbirth
Fifth disease has no long-term consequences for most healthy people. However, if your immune system is weakened due to HIV, chemotherapy, or other conditions, you’ll likely need to be under a doctor’s care as your body attempts to fight off fifth disease.
You’ll likely need medical attention if you have any type of anemia in particular. This is because fifth disease can stop your body from producing red blood cells (RBCs), which can reduce the amount of oxygen that your tissue gets. This is especially likely in people with sickle cell anemia. If you have sickle cell anemia, you should see a doctor right away after being exposed to fifth disease.
Fifth disease can harm your unborn baby, so it can be dangerous to develop the condition if you’re pregnant. Fifth disease can also lead to anemia in your unborn child, which can be life-threatening for them.
If necessary, your doctor may offer you a blood transfusion to help protect your unborn child. According to the March of Dimes, other pregnancy-related complications may include:
- heart failure
- miscarriage
- stillbirth
How can fifth disease be prevented?
Since fifth disease usually spreads from one person to another through airborne secretions, you should try to minimize contact with people who are sneezing, coughing, or blowing their noses. Washing your hands frequently can also help reduce the chances of contracting fifth disease.
Once a person with an intact immune system has contracted this disease, they’re considered immune for life. Medline Pubmed
Since fifth disease usually spreads from one person to another through airborne secretions, you should try to minimize contact with people who are sneezing, coughing, or blowing their noses. Washing your hands frequently can also help reduce the chances of contracting fifth disease.
Once a person with an intact immune system has contracted this disease, they’re considered immune for life. Medline Pubmed
