Fifth disease is generally a childhood disease, but it can also affect adults. Its symptoms include joint pain, swelling, and a mild rash. Some adults do not experience any symptoms at all. The symptoms generally improve within two weeks, but some people can experience prolonged joint pain and swelling. Adults with weakened immune systems or those who are pregnant may also experience complications.
How serious is fifth disease?
Fifth disease usually begins with mild symptoms, including a stuffy nose, cough, and runny nose. It may also cause muscle soreness and itching, headaches, and aches in the wrists or knees. Symptoms usually appear four to 14 days after exposure. In children, the rash appears on the cheeks, arms, and buttocks. The rash typically disappears within one to three weeks, although some children may show it for longer periods of time.
While fifth disease is rare in adults, it is more severe in pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems. During an outbreak, it is important to contact your healthcare provider and discuss possible risks to the unborn child. There is no specific treatment for the disease, but you should follow strict hygiene practices and hand-washing guidelines to reduce the risk to your unborn child.
Can adults get 5th disease?
Fifth disease, also called parvovirus B19, is a relatively mild illness. It is most common in children, aged four to 10 years. However, the virus can affect adults as well. The symptoms of fifth disease are a bright red rash on the cheeks. The rash is also often associated with a “slapped-cheeky” look. Even if the symptoms don’t develop immediately, the illness can be contagious before it causes any visible signs. It can be passed from one person to another by coughing or touching the mouth and nose secretions of an infected person.
People with fifth disease usually have joint pain and a rash. It usually affects the hands, knees, and ankles, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Some people may not have symptoms, but 80% of adults with this disease will experience some form of joint pain. Symptoms of fifth disease typically improve in two to three weeks. However, complications may occur for some adults, especially if they have a weakened immune system.
How long are you contagious with fifth disease?
You can spread fifth disease by direct contact with an infected person’s discharge or touching objects that have been contaminated by that person’s discharge. The disease can also be transmitted through blood transfusions or from mother to fetus. If you or someone in your family has this disease, contact a doctor as soon as possible. Symptoms of fifth disease can be similar to a common cold or the flu. Symptoms generally develop two to three weeks after first contact with the disease.
Although fifth disease rarely causes serious complications in pregnant women, it can cause hemolysis and can lead to hydrops fetalis, which may lead to severe anemia. It is also rare for the disease to cause a miscarriage or stillbirth, but if a woman is pregnant, she should contact her doctor immediately for a diagnosis. Unlike many diseases, there is no cure for fifth disease, but there are ways to protect the unborn child and limit the risks.
What does 5th disease look like?
The fifth disease rash usually develops on a particular part of the body, usually the face. It may last for two to four days, and can be itchy and red. The good news is that it’s not contagious. However, if the person has other health problems or an immune system problem, they should consult a doctor.
This illness is spread via respiratory droplets. The rash typically develops between four and fourteen days after the initial exposure. During the early stages, the symptoms may look like common colds and flu. The rash may not develop for another two to three weeks after the initial exposure, though.
