Facts
• Fifth's disease is a viral infection caused by the human parvovirus B19.
• It is a mildly contagious disease of childhood that tends to affect children ages 3 to 12.
• Its incubation period is 6 to 14 days.
Symptoms
• Fifth's disease has three distinct stages:
- First a red blush or sunburned looking rash appears over both cheeks.
- The next day, red round spots appear on the arms and legs.
- About one week later the first rash fades, causing a lacy marble-like pattern to appear.
• The lacy looking rash is the characteristic finding of this disease.
• The rash may last up to a month and may frequently disappear and then reappear.
• Generally the child feels well and has no fever.
• The diagnosis is usually made clinically; however, a blood test can be done for parvovirus B19.
• Children who have the lacy rash are not contagious by this stage and may attend school.
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