1. Recognize the Early Signs of Fifth Disease
Fifth disease, also known as erythema infectiosum, parvovirus B19 or slapped-cheek disease, is a common illness amongst children, striking in the late winter or early spring. The early symptoms of fifth disease can be hard to distinguish from a cold or other viral illness. Your child may run a low-grade fever for a couple of days and complain of just "not feeling well." He may have a stuffy nose, a headache, swollen glands, red eyes, a sore throat and diarrhea. Typically, these symptoms last no longer than a week, at which time your child may seem to get better. Many parents don't even realize that their children have fifth disease until a bright-red rash spreads across the face. It's this rash that gives the disease the common nickname of slapped-cheek disease.
2. Recognize the Characteristic Rash
Once your child has developed the characteristic slapped-cheek rash, the rash will wax and wane and change in appearance for as long as the next three weeks. Keep an eye out for large, red blotches that spread on the trunk and appendages. The rash occasionally itches and fades from the center outwards, so your child may look as though he's covered in red, lace doilies. In most cases though, by the time your child is covered in this blotchy rash, all the other symptoms of fifth disease will have faded. Limit your child's exposure to the sun and physical and emotional stress until the rash fades completely away, as sunlight, exertion and stress can all cause it to reappear with a vengeance.
3. Recognize Potential Complications of Fifth Disease
Most children do not experience any complications from fifth disease, despite the longevity of the illness. In some cases, however, the disease can affect joints and cause anemia. If your child has an immune disorder, ask your doctor to do a simple blood test to determine whether the illness is inducing anemia. While in most children this is inconsequential, for some it can affect the oxygenation of the blood, making them seriously ill.
Look for unusual joint stiffness or pain as well, especially in the morning and particularly in the knees, fingers and wrists. Rarely, fifth disease can cause arthritic symptoms, which are distinguishable from childhood-onset arthritis because of the symmetry of the pain--if one knee hurts, the other one will too. The arthritis symptoms are more common in girls and can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
