Fifth disease is also known as erythema infectiosum. Fifth disease is a common viral infection that is found in children. Fifth disease commonly causes a distinctive rash. The disease is known to be more among kids and teens. The causing agent for fifth disease is known as parvovirus B19. The virus commonly spreads through direct contact with either fluids or mucus. This could be in turn from the mouth or nose of an infected person. Usually in the case of fifth disease sufferers are known to have a bright red cheek rash. This rash interestingly does not appear until the particular infected person is no longer contagious.
Fifth disease is usually considered a mild illness. In fact in many of the cases the people who are infected with the disease sometimes never realize that they are infected by it. Typically fifth disease outbreaks have been reported more during early spring or in the late winter. In a particular geographic location if the outbreak were to happen it usually affects anywhere between 10% to 60% children living in that particular geographical location.
The initial symptoms of fifth disease are usually very mild. This can include, muscle aches, fever, headache and sometimes fatigue which results in decreased activity in children for the initial few days. After a week or so children are know to develop a kind of red rash on their cheeks. This typically takes on an appearance of a ‘slapped cheek’ on the actual appearance of the disease.
In some cases kids are also known to get either a reddish or pinkish kind of rash on their arms. This rash which often comes and goes can also be found sometimes seen spreading to other areas of the body such as the trunk, buttocks and the legs. Children become susceptible to the symptoms after two or three weeks after being exposed to other children with fifth disease.
The diagnosis of the disease is usually done through a blood test. Although this is the case it is mostly not required since in the case of most of the children the rash in itself is a form of diagnosis. When it comes to the actual treatment of someone suffering from fifth disease it is not usually necessary. Treatment is necessary only when the rash becomes itchy. During such instances anti-itch treatments are tried out as a method of treatment.

You can find a lot of useful information on fifth disease by visiting online sources dedicated to the subject. For instance not many people know that the rash which occurs due to fifth disease can last for months together sometimes. The rash is typically worse when a particular child is overheated. Although this disease is generally known to occur among children sometimes adults too can develop this disease. Adults with fifth disease are sometimes known to additionally develop arthritis. There are also instances when people with sickle cell disease or with some immune system problem can also develop complications once they have fifth disease. You can find a host of valuable information on fifth disease by visiting dedicated online sources. You can also find out detailed information about the various symptoms of the disease and the methods of treatment by visiting such online sources.