by Jenny Tolley

Created on: April 10, 2011

Parvovirus B19, popularly known as "fifth disease", is a mild viral illness that most commonly affects children.  Fifth disease is caused by the human parvovirus B19.  People who have fifth disease commonly have a low grade fever, general malaise, and a distinctive facial rash that looks like a "slapped cheek".  In addition, fifth disease can also cause a lacy red rash on the trunk and limbs.  In adults, infection with parvovirus B19 can cause stiffness and soreness in the joints.  

Fifth disease is contagious, but only in the early stages of the illness.  It usually takes anywhere between four and fourteen days after infection for symptoms to present, but sometimes the virus can incubate for as long as twenty days.  By the time a person presents the distinctive fifth disease rash, he or she is probably no longer contagious.  Some people can be infected by the virus and never get sick and some people who have the illness once, become permanently immune to the virus.  The virus is thought to be spread through respiratory secretions in saliva, sputum, and nasal secretions.  Sharing eating utensils or drinking cups or kissing someone who is infected can cause the illness to spread.     

Fifth disease is usually a mild illness that clears up on its own within seven to ten days.  However, people who suffer from sickle cell disease or other types of chronic anemia may become even more anemic after contracting parvovirus B19.  Fifth disease can also cause serious complications for people who have cancer, have had an organ transplant, suffer from immune deficiencies, or are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).  Women who are pregnant may also be at risk of suffering serious complications from fifth disease.  Those who are in a vulnerable population should be especially careful to take preventive measures to avoid contracting fifth disease.     

While there is currently no vaccine available that can prevent fifth disease, the risk of contracting the virus can be reduced through frequent hand washing and not sharing eating utensils or drinking cups with others.  Infected persons may feel better staying home from work or school during the early stages of the illness, but that will not necessarily prevent the illness from spreading to others.  Most people are no longer contagious once the signs and symptoms of fifth disease appear.    

Source: the Centers for Disease Control's page on parvovirus B19.

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