t Kent County Health Department

Fifth Disease Fact Sheet

What is fifth disease? How is fifth disease treated? Fifth disease is a mild rash illness. It clears There is no specific treatment for fifth up on its own among children and adults disease. Fever should be treated with non- who are otherwise healthy. aspirin products. People should also get Fact Shee plenty of rest and fluids.

Who gets fifth disease? Anyone can be infected, but the disease Do I need to keep my child seems to occur more often in elementary home from school? school-age children. Since a child is contagious before the rash appears, someone with fifth disease may How do you get fifth disease? attend childcare or school while having the It is spread by exposure to airborne droplets rash. from the nose and throat of infected people. How can fifth disease be What are the symptoms and prevented? when do they appear? There is no vaccine to prevent fifth disease. One to two weeks after exposure, some In order to limit the spread of the virus, use

General Public children will experience a low-grade fever a tissue to cover your mouth when you and tiredness. By the third week, a red rash cough or sneeze. Wash hands often generally appears on the cheeks giving a throughout the day. slapped face appearance. A lacy red rash may appear on the body. It can fade and What’s with the name? reappear for one to three weeks or longer Historically, erythema infectiousm (Fifth’s after being exposed to sunlight or heat (e.g., Disease) is considered the fifth rash- bathing). Sometimes the rash may be itchy. producing pediatric infection. The other Some children may have vague signs of four are measles, german measles, scarlet illness or no symptoms at all. fever and Roseola.

The Health Department does not This fact sheet is for information only and is diagnosis fifth disease. not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for talking with a health care provider. If you have any questions about fifth When and for how long is a disease or think you may have it, call your health care provider. person able to spread the illness? People with fifth disease seem to be contagious during the week before the rash appears. By the time the rash is evident, the person is probably beyond the contagious ©2004 Kent County Health Department period. 700 Fuller NE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 616/632-7100 www.accesskent.com