$Unique_ID{PAR00073}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Fifth disease}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Fifth disease red rash cheeks lace-like trunk limbs arm arms leg
legs fever Itching Headache Sore throat Runny nose appetite Loss Nausea
erythema infectiosum scarlet fever}
$Log{}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Fifth disease


     Quick Reference

     KEY SYMPTOMS
     - Bright red rash on cheeks
     - Pink rash (forming a lace-like pattern) on trunk and limbs
     - Slight fever or no fever
     - Itching

     POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS (OLDER CHILDREN ONLY)
     - Headache
     - Sore throat
     - Runny nose
     - Loss of appetite
     - Nausea

     HOME CARE
     - No treatment is required.
     - Itching may be treated with antihistamines.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - None


     Fifth disease (erythema infectiosum) is a moderately contagious childhood
disease.  It is thought to be caused by a virus that has not yet been
identified.  Symptoms may appear an average of two weeks after being exposed
to a person with the disease (although they may appear anywhere from one week
to four weeks after exposure).  Epidemics of fifth disease often occur in
schools and neighborhoods.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     Usually the child has little or no fever and feels only slightly or not
at all ill.  The disease is identified by the sudden appearance of a bright
red rash on the cheeks, making it look as though the child had been slapped.
A pink rash forming a pattern like a lace tablecloth appears on the trunk and
limbs.  The rash can last two to 40 days and may itch.  In older children and
young adults, headache, sore throat, runny nose, loss of appetite, and nausea
may occur.
     Fifth disease usually is obvious from the typical appearance of the rash,
especially if an epidemic is occurring in the neighborhood or school.  Fifth
disease is occasionally confused with rashes caused by medications, rubella,
and other viral rashes.  On rare occasions, the condition is confused with
scarlet fever.

HOME CARE

     No treatment is required.  The child need not be isolated.  Public health
authorities have stated that a child with fifth disease can attend school if
there is no fever and the child feels well enough.  Itching can be treated
with antihistamines.

PRECAUTIONS

  -  None

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     There are no laboratory tests to diagnose the disease.  The doctor will
confirm the diagnosis from the appearance of the rash, after ruling out other
possible causes.

RELATED TOPICS:  Rashes; Rubella