Fifth disease (Human Parvovirus B19)
What is Fifth disease?
Fifth disease is a common viral infection with rash caused by a virus called parvovirus B19. The rash usually appears 4-14 days after the start of the infection. People can be contagious without ever having any signs or symptoms. Outbreaks occur in the late winter and early spring. The disease can be severe in people with sickle cell disease or certain blood disorders, as well as those with compromised immune systems.
Signs and symptoms
- Fever
- Headache
- Rash (“slapped cheek” rash on face and lacy rash on the rest of the body)
- Rash may go away and return over time
- Fatigue, muscle aches
- Uncommon symptoms are itchiness, cough, diarrhea, vomiting, runny nose, and joint pain
Incubation period
4-14 days; sometimes as long as 21 days
Contagious period and spread
- Person-to-person via respiratory (droplet) route: Contact with large droplets that form when a child talks, coughs, or sneezes. These droplets can land on or be rubbed into the eyes, nose, or mouth. The large droplets do not stay in the air or cause long-distance spread.
- Rarely, a baby can be infected before birth from infection of a pregnant person.
- Infection can rarely happen from exposure to blood or blood products.
- Contagious period: From symptom onset until the rash appears.
Control of spread
- Use good hand-hygiene techniques.
- Sanitize contaminated items.
- Dispose of tissues containing nose and throat secretions.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment. Most infections are mild and do not require medicine.
Exclusion
Exclude the child if they meet other exclusion criteria, or the child is unable to participate and staff are unable to care for the student/child without compromising the health and safety of others.
Role of teachers, caregivers, and family
- Report the infection to the staff member designated by the child care program or school for decision-making and action related to the care of ill children.
- Susceptible pregnant teachers/caregivers and pregnant parents of children in child care and school settings should practice good hand hygiene to reduce their risk of human parvovirus B19 infection and infection from other viruses that could harm a fetus.
- Teach children and teachers/caregivers to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or with an upper sleeve or elbow if no tissue is available, wash their hands after using facial tissues or having contact with mucus, and dispose of tissues that contain nasal secretions after each use.
- Teach everyone to remove any visible nasal or cough discharge from surfaces, change or cover contaminated clothing, and practice hand hygiene right after using facial tissues or having contact with mucus. Use good hand-hygiene techniques at all times.