Fifth Disease,Skin and Parvovirus

Author
Prof. Hayk S. Arakelyan. Full Professor in Medicine,
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Ph.D , Grand Ph.D .
Senior Expert of Interactive Clinical Pharmacology , Drug Safety,
Treatment Tactics, General Medicine and Clinical Research.

“Good health and good sense
are two of life's greatest
blessings.”
“Publilius Syrus”

Introduction.
Fifth disease is a viral infection caused by parvovirus B19. Fifth disease spreads easily, through saliva and mucus. You can get it when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Frequently washing your hands might help prevent getting the virus. The Latin name for the disease is erythema infectiosum, meaning infectious redness. It is alsocalled the "slapped cheek disease" because, when the bright red rash first appears on the cheeks,
Causes and symptoms.
Eythema infectiosum is caused by the parvovirus B19. It involves a low-grade fever, tiredness, and a rash over the body and, notably, on the cheeks. The symptoms of fifth disease include:
The main symptoms.- slightly elevated body temperature, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, rash. A rash appears in three stages. A blotchy red rash may appear on the cheeks. Red papules emerge. These group together within a few hours to form red, slightly swollen, warm plaques. They do not affect the nose or mouth. After about 4 days, a net of red marks may appear on the arms and trunk. These form into a lacy pattern. The third stage is recurrent. It is invisible, but exposure to sunlight or heat may cause it to appear. After about 3 weeks, the rash will normally disappear, but it can last from 1 to 6 weeks. The rash may be itchy, but it is rarely painful. As it tends to appear towards the end of the illness, it may be mistaken for a drug-related rash or another disease.
Less common symptoms are:
nausea, diarrhea, or both,abdominal pain, arthralgia, or joint pain, normally only in adults.
Adults may experience pain and soreness in their joints, especially the hands, wrists, knees, and ankles. Joint pain can last from 2 weeks to over a year.
Rarely, an adult may experience neurological or cardiovascular problems.
Transmission and Diagnosis.
Parvovirus B19 spreads between humans through the air, saliva, or as a result of close contact.The most common form of transmission is through sneezing or coughing, and sometimes hand-to-hand contact.It can spread rapidly in places where many people congregate, such as schools, kindergartens, and nurseries. Rarely, transmission may occur through blood products. Signs and symptoms of erythema infectiosum tend to be easy to detect, so diagnosis is normally straightforward. It is sometimes confused with scarlet fever, but the rash is different.
-Differential Diagnosis of Fifth Disease.
- Treatment Perspectives of Fifth Disease.

To be continued ....
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Prof. Hayk S. Arakelyan