How do you treat fifths disease

You may also have painful or swollen joints People with fifth disease can also develop pain and swelling in their joints. This is called polyarthropathy syndrome. It is more common in adults, especially women. Some adults with fifth disease may only have painful joints, usually in the hands, feet, or knees, and no other symptoms.

The joint pain usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks, but it can last for months or longer. It usually goes away without any long-term problems. Top of Page. Fifth disease is usually mild for children and adults who are otherwise healthy. But for some people, parvovirus B19 infection can cause serious health complications, such as chronic anemia that requires medical treatment. You may be at risk for serious complications from fifth disease if you have a weakened immune system caused by leukemia, cancer, organ transplants, or HIV infection.

Parvovirus B19—which causes fifth disease—spreads through respiratory secretions, such as saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus, when an infected person coughs or sneezes. After you get the rash you are not likely to be contagious, so it is usually safe for you or your child to go back to work or school. People with fifth disease who have weakened immune systems may be contagious for a longer amount of time. But fifth disease can cause problems in certain cases:. This article was contributed by: familydoctor.

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Vomiting and Diarrhea. Sore Throat. Strep Throat. The rash tends to clear up on one area of the body and then re-appear on another part of the body within a few days. The rash may last for weeks. Children are more likely to get a rash than adults. In fact, the main symptom adults usually experience is joint pain. Joint pain can last for several weeks.

Doctors can often make the diagnosis by simply looking at the rash. If your joints hurt or you have a headache or fever, you may be advised to take over-the-counter OTC acetaminophen Tylenol as needed to relieve these symptoms. This usually takes one to three weeks. You can help the process along by drinking a lot of fluids and getting extra rest. In rare instances, intravenous immunoglobulin IVIG can be administered.

This treatment is usually reserved for severe, life-threatening cases. While fifth disease usually affects children, it can occur in adults. As with children, fifth disease in adults is almost always mild. Symptoms include joint pain and swelling.

Some adults with fifth disease experience no symptoms at all. Treatment for these symptoms is typically OTC pain medication, such as Tylenol and ibuprofen. These medications can help reduce swelling and joint pain. Symptoms often improve on their own within one or two weeks, but they may last for several months. Adults rarely experience problems with fifth.

Women who are pregnant and adults with a weak immune system or chronic anemia may experience complications if they contract fifth disease. Most people who come into contact with the virus that causes fifth disease and those who later develop an infection will have no problem as a result. In rare cases, a fetus whose mother has contracted parvovirus B19 can develop severe anemia.

This condition makes it difficult for the developing fetus to make red blood cells RBCs , and it could lead to miscarriage. Miscarriage caused by fifth disease is not common. Less than 5 percent of pregnant women who contract fifth disease will lose their fetus. Miscarriage usually occurs in the first trimester, or first three months , of pregnancy.

However, your doctor will likely request additional monitoring. This may include:. Mothers who are diagnosed with fifth disease can transmit the virus to their developing fetus. If this happens, the baby could develop severe anemia. However, this is rare. Babies with anemia caused by fifth disease may require a blood transfusion. In some cases, condition could cause stillbirth or miscarriage.

The doctor will monitor the mother and fetus throughout the pregnancy. The baby will likely receive additional medical care after delivery, including a blood transfusion if necessary. Fifth disease is spread mostly by coughs and sneezes.

By the time the rash appears, you can no longer spread the disease to anyone else. Once you have been infected with this virus, you cannot get it again. Fifth disease can make you feel like you are coming down with influenza flu. You may have a runny nose, sore throat, headache, belly pain, and achy joints. A few days later, you may get a bright red rash on your cheeks that lasts for 2 to 5 days. Then you may get a rash on your body that lasts for a week.

The rash may come back if you are in sunlight or warm temperatures, or if you feel stressed. Some people have symptoms on and off for months. You may get swollen, red joints that can last for several weeks or even months.

Self-care at home, such as rest, fluids, and pain relievers, is usually the only care you need for fifth disease. Doctors do not use antibiotics to treat fifth disease, because it is caused by a virus rather than bacteria. If you are pregnant and have been exposed to fifth disease, talk with your doctor. There is a very small chance that your baby may develop anemia. Likewise, talk with your doctor if you have any form of long-term anemia and are exposed to fifth disease.