Fifth disease

Fifth disease
An oddly named disease caused by a virus called parvovirus B 19. (In the pre-vaccination era, fifth disease was frequently the "fifth disease" that a child contracted.) . Symptoms include low-grade fever, fatigue, a "slapped cheeks rash," and a rash over the whole body. While the illness is mild in most children, some children with immune deficiency (such as those with AIDS or leukemia) or with certain blood disorders (such as sickle cell anemia or hemolytic anemia) may become seriously ill with fifth disease. Parvovirus B19 can temporarily decrease or halt the body's production of red blood cells, causing anemia. Moreover, fifth disease is of consequence in many adults. About 80% of adults with fifth disease have joint aches and pains (arthritis) which may become long-term with stiffness in the morning, redness and swelling of the same joints on both sides of the body (a "symmetrical" arthritis), most commonly involving the knees, fingers, and wrists. Pregnant women (who have not previously had the illness) should avoid contact with patients who have fifth disease. The fifth disease virus can infect the fetus prior to birth. And, while no birth defects have been reported as a result of fifth disease, it can cause the death of the unborn fetus. The risk of fetal death is 5-10% if the mother becomes infected. Fifth disease is also known as erythema infectiosum. For more information, see the MedicineNet.com Fifth Disease Center.

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fifth disease n an acute eruptive disease esp. of children that is caused by a parvovirus (species B19 virus of the genus Erythrovirus), that is first manifested by a blotchy red rash on the cheeks followed by a maculopapular rash on the extremities, and that is usu. accompanied by fever and malaise called also erythema infectiosum

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erythema infectiosum.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Fifth disease — Infobox Disease Name = PAGENAME Caption = 16 month old with fifth disease DiseasesDB = 4442 ICD10 = ICD10|B|08|3|b|0 ICD9 = ICD9|057.0 ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = eMedicineSubj = emerg eMedicineTopic = 378 eMedicine mult = eMedicine2|derm|136… …   Wikipedia

  • Fifth-disease — Klassifikation nach ICD 10 B08.3 Erythema infectiosum …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • fifth disease — noun Etymology: probably translation of French cinquième maladie; so called because it was the fifth of five exanthematous childhood diseases known at the time of its description (1928) : an acute eruptive disease especially of children that is… …   Useful english dictionary

  • fifth disease — /ˈfɪfθ dəziz/ (say fifth duhzeez) noun a common childhood disease caused by a parvovirus, resulting in red flushed cheeks, paleness around the mouth and a red patchy rash on the arms and legs; slapped cheek disease. {from its being fifth in… …  

  • fifth disease — noun Etymology: from its enumeration as the fifth of five exanthematous childhood diseases known at the time of its description Date: circa 1941 an acute disease especially of children caused by a parvovirus species (B19 virus of the genus… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • fifth disease — Pathol. a mild infection, most often seen in children or young adults, caused by a small virus (the human parvovirus B19) and marked by a blotchy rash on the cheeks, arms, and legs. Also called erythema infectiosum. [so called because it was the… …   Universalium

  • fifth disease — noun The manifestation as rashes of a particular viral infection …   Wiktionary

  • Fifth Disease — parvovirus …   Eponyms, nicknames, and geographical games

  • fifth disease — see erythema (infectiosum) …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • Pregnancy danger from fifth disease — Caused by a virus known as parvovirus B 19. Symptoms include low grade fever, fatigue, a "slapped cheeks rash," and a rash over the whole body. The illness is not serious in children. Pregnant women (who have not previously had the… …   Medical dictionary

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