I recently hosted a birthday party for my 12-year-old son. One of his friends had a rash on his face and arms, which his mom said was fifth disease. She said her child was no longer contagious, but I was still nervous. What is fifth disease, and what are the chances that other kids at the party now have it?
Fifth disease sounds a lot scarier than it actually is. The name comes from being the last of the five classic rash-producing infections of childhood. (The first four being measles, scarlet fever, rubella, and a now-forgotten disease called fourth disease.) Fifth disease is a viral infection caused by parvovirus B19. The condition manifests itself first through a low-grade fever and cold-like symptoms. These symptoms resolve fairly quickly, and then a red rash develops on the face (thus the disease’s moniker as the “slapped face syndrome”). The rash can then spread to the arms, hands, and torso.
In terms of the disease spreading to the other kids at your party, I wouldn’t worry. A child is contagious during the “cold-like” symptom phase of the disease, and the virus is spread through the tiny respiratory water droplets in a cough or a sneeze. By the time the rash appears on the skin, the infection is no longer contagious.
The virus usually strikes children between the ages of 5 and 15, and is relatively harmless for a healthy child. However, children with weakened immune systems or pregnant women should be in contact with their doctors if exposure to fifth disease is suspected or if symptoms develop. The condition slows down the body’s production of red blood cells, which can lead to anemia and deprivation of oxygen to tissues. In non-compromised children, this slow-down is barely noticeable. However, for those with compromised immune systems or for those who are pregnant, there can be complications that require medical attention.
Because fifth disease is a virus, there is no treatment beyond waiting it out. While fifth disease’s contagious phase only lasts a few days, the ensuing rash can remain for up to three weeks. While the child may feel just fine, the rash may itch and fade and reappear as the disease runs its course, making it more annoying than painful. In any case, a rash should always be checked out by a pediatrician for correct diagnosis and, if warranted, treatment.
