Fifth Disease

Fifth Disease is the common name for an infection caused by the virus, parvovirus B19. The illness is more common in children than adults, and most occur in late winter or early spring.

What are the symptoms?

Many people with fifth disease have mild or no symptoms. Children’s symptoms involve the skin and airways, while adults more often experience joint pain.

Children’s most common symptoms include:

• A very red rash on a child’s cheeks, or a “slapped cheek.” (The most common symptom.)
• Low-grade fever.
• Runny nose.
• Muscle aches.
• Headache.
• After one to four days, a red, lace-like rash appears, first on the torso and arms, and then spreads to the rest of the body.

Adults with parvovirus infections are more likely to get painful, swollen or stiff joints. The rash and joint pain may last for several weeks and increase or decrease in severity.

How does it spread?

Fifth Disease spreads easily from person to person through close contact, such as coughing, sneezing, or touching contaminated surfaces. It can take 4-20 days after contact with the virus before you will see it yourself.

The virus is most contagious before the rash appears, and once the rash develops, the individual is typically no longer contagious.

Fifth Disease (parvovirus B19) only infects people. A person cannot get the virus from a dog or cat. Also, dogs and cats cannot get it from an infected person. Dogs and cats can get infected with other parvoviruses that do not infect people.

How can I prevent the spread of Fifth Disease?

• Practicing good health habits.
• Frequent hand washing.
• Encouraging covering of coughs and sneezes.
• Frequent cleaning of surfaces that are commonly touched, such as door handles and toys.

Talk to your doctor:

• If you are pregnant and your child becomes ill with fifth disease.
• If you have a weakened immune system.
• If you have chronic anemia or sickle cell disease.

Services related to this information:

• Contact your Public Health Nurse.
• 811 HealthLine (Newfoundland & Labrador) – Call 811 or 1-888-709-2929 / TTY 1-888-709-3555.