5th disease

Presented by
MICHELLE VINCENT
Presented to
MA’AM MARIA RANA
 What is Fifth disease?

• Fifth disease is an infection which, in children,

often appears as a bright red rash on the face.
It is sometimes called “slapped face” disease.
Adults may experience joint pain.
What causes Fifth disease and how is it
spread?

• Fifth disease is caused by a virus called parvovirus B19. A

person with Fifth disease can spread it to others by coughing
or sneezing. Sometimes you can get the disease just by
touching the saliva or nasal discharge (e.g. a wet hanky or
tissue) of a person with the disease and then touching your
own eyes or mouth. A pregnant woman who gets Fifth disease
can pass it to her unborn baby.
What are the symptoms of Fifth
disease?
 How long does 5th disease last in
adults?

• It can last several months, but usually gets better after 1 to 2

weeks. Some adults who get fifth disease don't experience
any symptoms. Symptoms usually show up 4 to 14 days after
exposure. The rash may not appear for as long as 3 weeks.
What is the treatment for fifth disease?
 Treatment / Management
• The disease process is typically self-limiting. Symptom
control and supportive management are the basis for
treatment of erythema infectiosum.
• Use acetaminophen and/or NSAIDs for fever control,
arthralgias, and headache, if present.
• If an aplastic crisis is found on workup, then serial
hemoglobin/hematocrit testing should be performed with
red blood cell transfusions, as needed, throughout viral
infection.
• If a mother is found to have acute parvovirus B19 infection
early in pregnancy, she will need close follow-up with her
obstetrician for serial ultrasounds and to monitor for fetal
complications and hydrops fetalis.
 Epidemiology
• Erythema infectiosum occurs worldwide. It
more commonly occurs in school-age children
who are 5 to 15 years old. It can affects adults
but less frequently. This infection is commonly
seen in the spring months of the year.
 pregnant patients
The complications include:
• miscarriage,
• intrauterine death,
• hydrops fetalis.
The risk of fetal loss after acute infection is
approximately 5%. Mothers in their second
trimester of pregnancy are at greatest risk of
developing complications from parvovirus B19,
but cases have been reported at all points of
pregnancy.
 chronic hemolytic diseases
• Patients with sickle-cell can be more severely
affected than other populations.Infection by
parvovirus B19 destroys reticulocytes. This causes
a decrease or transient halt in erythropoiesis.
Such individuals can develop an aplastic crisis and
lead to severe anemia. Often, these patients will
be much more ill-appearing with fevers, malaise,
and lethargy. Patients with aplastic crisis will
have pallor, tachycardia, and tachypnea from the
severe anemia.
How Can I Prevent Fifth Disease?

• There is no vaccine against 5th disease.

• About 50% of adults are immune to fifth
disease because they had it in childhood, often
without knowing it.