What is it about ?
Fifth disease is a contagious childhood illness (childhood illness) caused by a virus, namely human parovirus B19. This virus is spread through droplets thrown into the air when sneezing or coughing.
What is its frequency?
The disease usually appears in the spring, in small epidemics, for example in a school or a day care center, and mainly affects children between 5 and 15 years old. Adults can also get the disease, but it is rather rare. This is because most adults have had the disease when they were children and are therefore immune.
How to recognize it?
The disease can progress without symptoms (asymptomatic disease); one can therefore be ill without knowing it. The incubation period varies between 6 and 16 days, which means that the virus is present in the body for 6 to 16 days before symptoms appear. The illness often begins as a mild flu with fever, headache, sore throat and muscle pain. This is followed by a rash, usually starting on the cheeks. The skin is red (erythema). The area around the nose and mouth remains intact, so the rash looks like the wings of a butterfly. It is also a bit as if the child comes home from outside in the winter or as if he has been slapped in the face. The rash then spreads to the limbs. At first, the erythema presents as red patches. Then, buttons are added. The rash usually does not tickle. It lasts 3 to 7 days, then disappears spontaneously. It can reappear several times over several weeks during exposure to heat, cold, stress or exertion, for example. In rare cases, there may also be joint pain and joint inflammation.
If infected during pregnancy, the virus is passed to the baby through the placenta about once in three. This usually has no consequences. But in rare cases, the infection can trigger inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) and bone marrow depression in the fetus. This causes a miscarriage in 10% of cases. There is no evidence that the disease in the mother causes birth defects in the child.
How is the diagnosis made?
The diagnosis is based entirely on the nature of the symptoms. It is possible, but unnecessary, to try to detect the virus in the blood. After all, the disease is not serious and resolves spontaneously. In pregnant women, however, a blood test will be done to confirm the diagnosis.
What can you do ?
Most often, a little rest and paracetamol are all it takes to relieve fever and muscle pain. The virus goes away on its own. It is not necessary to isolate a child with fifth disease. The disease is usually only contagious during the incubation period, when there is no sign of disease yet. Once the rash appears, the disease can no longer be transmitted. The child can therefore go to school. If you are pregnant and have the virus, see your doctor.
What can your doctor do?
Your doctor will reassure you and wait for the disease to recover spontaneously. There is no medicine for the virus. Treatment is purely symptomatic and aims to relieve complaints. If you are pregnant, the doctor will refer you to the gynecologist.
Want to know more?
- Erythema infectiosum (image) – Global Skin Atlas
- Does your child have a fever? When should she be given medication? here, Where to be found on this page of the FAMHP – Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products
- Paracetamol – CBIP – Belgian Center for Pharmacotherapeutic Information
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