Fifths Disease?

rajs4 · 10-06-2008, 09:18 AM

Is anyone familiar with this or gone through it? It seems to be going around at my children's school.

Ocean Lover · 10-06-2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rajs4

Is anyone familiar with this or gone through it? It seems to be going around at my children's school.

My daughter had it in preschool.Fifths disease wasn't too serious just another annoying virus that kids can get. You'll know if your child has it by the low grade fever and "slapped face" look.

rajs4 · 10-06-2008, 09:30 AM

Yes, he definitely has that look. Was it highly contagious?

Beach Runner · 10-06-2008, 09:38 AM

It's fairly contagious. I caught it from a child in our daughter's class when it was going around at her school. I think it was from when I was one of the drivers on a field trip. She never got it.

I was really worried about it because I was spending thousands a month on infertility and was afraid that it would harm our potential baby.

EDIT: It's called fifth disease, being the fifth exanthem (rash) after measles, rubella, chickenpox, and scarlet fever.

rajs4 · 10-06-2008, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beach Runner

It's fairly contagious. I caught it from a child in our daughter's class when it was going around at her school. I think it was from when I was one of the drivers on a field trip. She never got it.

I was really worried about it because I was spending thousands a month on infertility and was afraid that it would harm our potential baby.

A couple of weeks ago, I had severe joint pain and a mild rash on my arms and legs. I didn't think anything of it until now. I have been in and out of multiple classrooms and think I could have picked it up. I just heard last week that it has been going around. It seems like as soon as one child recovers from something the others catch something else!

northshore · 10-06-2008, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rajs4

Is anyone familiar with this or gone through it? It seems to be going around at my children's school.

Oh no! Do your children have it? We've never had before.....

rajs4 · 10-06-2008, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northshore

Oh no! Do your children have it? We've never had before.....

So far only my 9 y/o. After further research on it, it's only contagious during the fever stage. Once the rash appears (when I realized he had it) it's no longer contagious. I kept him home today as a precaution and to keep him comfortable.

bluemtnrunner · 10-06-2008, 10:43 AM

My daughter had it when she was little and the pediatrician pretty much said, by the time you notice it, it is all over. I have never heard of any complications from it but it sure does freak a parent out to see your kid all covered with a red lacey unraised rash.

Beach Runner · 10-06-2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rajs4

A couple of weeks ago, I had severe joint pain and a mild rash on my arms and legs. I didn't think anything of it until now. I have been in and out of multiple classrooms and think I could have picked it up. I just heard last week that it has been going around. It seems like as soon as one child recovers from something the others catch something else!

You could have easily picked it up at school. I don't remember what (if any) meds they gave to me. I do remember feeling bad enough that the doctor told me to stay home from work. He suggested treating me with gamma globulin. I didn't want to get HIV from gamma globulin because that was back when the screening for HIV in blood products was not as reliable as it is now.

Stay well!

dunelover · 10-06-2008, 11:01 AM

My pediatrician once told me a story of a mom he overheard talking at one of his kids ballgames. She was complaining of extreme joint pain and was going to be tested for lupus soon. He asked her if her son had fifths and sure enough he had a few weeks earlier. So, remember we as adults can get it and have different symptoms than our kids. They get the slapped cheek look and we get joint pain and mild cold symptoms. Hope everyone stays well.

BeachBebe · 10-06-2008, 11:11 AM

My daughter had Fifth's Disease at the age of sixteen, experiencing swollen and tender joints. She was babysitting frequently at the time. After a couple of weeks, she felt okay, and the joint tenderness subsided. However, it was another story when I had it a few weeks later. Took several weeks to get back to normal.

Geo · 10-06-2008, 12:00 PM

A little girl had it in our son's summer Pre-K program but we didn't know this until after she (unintentionally and unknowingly) gave it to our son. Our son then gave it to our daughter at home...

It showed up as a rash on our little ones' arms and legs but no symptoms that we noticed besides that...

The issue with Fifth disease is that when it is contageous it doesn't show up with obvious signs and when it shows up iwith obvious signs it is no longer contageous...

Our understandiung is that it is nothing to worry about...

Hope this helps...

G

30A Skunkape · 10-06-2008, 12:36 PM

Saw two cases this morning. It is going around. First the slapped cheeks appear, a few days later rash on the extremities which in a few more days turns from bright red to lacy and subsides. Harmless. Relax.

rajs4 · 10-06-2008, 12:51 PM

Thanks everyone for the feedback. We are feeling better about it now. It is frightening to see the cheeks and rash though. Thankfully It's already starting to look better.