About a week ago my son was expossed to someone who later turned out to have fifth disease. Today his fever is hovering around 102 and is moaning and achy. Should I be concerned? He's almost 4.

By Lauram on Friday, September 5, 2003 - 07:11 pm:

The only reason you should be concerned is if you are pregnant or if he is around anyone who is pg. It could cause a miscarriage if the mom has not had it. If he has exposed a pg woman to it, she should have a titer (I think that's how you spell it) Both my boys had it.

By Bobbie on Friday, September 5, 2003 - 10:52 pm:

Two of my four had this last year. And I worked at a peds during a major out break of it. There is nothing that can be done for it except for benedryl and tylenol. It is a fine rash usually on the face but can cover the whole body. Child is not contagous during the rash stage only during the fever. Which means your child is exposed before you realize the other child has it. And locally our schools accepted the children back to school once diagnosed with Fifth. Because the rash can take upwards of ten days to fade. It won't hurt him and like Laura said just keep him away from anyone that is PG. And if he has exposed anyone that is PG tell them to see their dr.

The benedryl helps lessen the spread of the rash and the tylenol helps with the body aches and fever. With in a couple of days he might look bad but will be acting 100% back to normal. If.. He itches though (which is not always a symptom) then you need to take him to his ped. He might need an ati biotic to prevent infection in the rash. Fifths is a form of measles and once he has it he shouldn't get it again. And just like chicken pox it has to work its course there is nothing the ped can do for it. So as long as you are for sure it is Fifths there is no reason for concern..

By Insaneusmcwife on Saturday, September 6, 2003 - 01:20 am:

Isn't this the same as hand foot and mouth disease? My ds had it when he was 18 months. I wasn't aware it was a form of measles.

I hope your ds feels better soon!

By Lauram on Saturday, September 6, 2003 - 09:53 am:

No, Hand foot and mouth disease is called Coxsackie (I'm not sure if a I spelled that correctly). That can be very painful.

By Mommmie on Saturday, September 6, 2003 - 03:03 pm:

I got 5th Disease last year when it went around my son's school. It presents differently in adults - major joint pain. I thought I had Lupus or something. I couldn't push the elevator button in my office building the joint pain was so bad. It was quite a trip.

By Annie2 on Saturday, September 6, 2003 - 06:05 pm:

I know Fifth disease is not serious, but I think it can turn into Scarlet Fever. If I am not mistaken. Scarlet fever can damage the heart valves.

By Bobbie on Saturday, September 6, 2003 - 10:18 pm:

No Scarlet Fever isn't the same thing. And it is a rash with a high fever that last over days, which the fever is what causes the damage. Usually with fifths you get the fever (which is generally a slight spike) that goes away. Then with in a day or two of the fever you will start noticing a fine rash that kind of looks like wind burn. Scarlet Tina how ever is simular to Fifths. In the fact that they are both fine rashes. My oldest dd had that in Kindergarden. With Scarlet tina you have to keep them in a darkend room because the rash is spred by light. And they have to be put on a course of anit biotics because this rash does itch and can cause infection. Which is why I said if she is sure his exposure was Fifths then no concern benedryl and tylenol (which she should be able to confirm with the ped's office over the phone) but if it possibly isn't she should take DS to the ped's. Just to make sure. Scarlet tina kind of looks like poison ivy. The welts rase up in clusters simular to the ivy rash. Where as fifths looks like a wind burn rash. More fine and makes the child look flush...

By Pjowl on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 08:13 pm:

My daughter got the Fifth disease from school, then several weeks later I was misdiagnosis with Lupus. I had a skin rash and horriable joint pain which lasted for months. After months and months of pain I was correctly diagnoised with Fifth disease because a neighbor had the same symptoms and told me of Fifth. I am so thankful I don't have to live with a life time illness. Since Fifth disease is commonly known as a childhood illness, I am concerned that many mom's might get it and not know how differnetly it appears in adult. If you had similar experience please e-mail me. I have getting information together to give to my local preschools and school to educate them about this illness.
Pjowl@sbcglobal.net

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 06:04 am:

Our receptionist's poor little 9 year old came down with Scarlet Fever a couple of weeks ago, and then came down with Fifths Disease while recovering from the Scarlet Fever.