Fifth Disease

Childhood Skin Problems Slideshow

• Fifth Disease Overview
• Fifth Disease Causes
• Fifth Disease Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Fifth Disease Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Next Steps
• Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• Multimedia
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors
• Pictures of Childhood Skin Problems - Slideshow
• Related fifth disease articles:
  Fifth disease - on WebMD
  Fifth disease - on MedicineNet

Fifth Disease Overview

Fifth disease (the medical name is erythema infectiosum or EI) is a mild illness caused by a virus. It is seen primarily in school-aged children between 5 and 14 years during the spring and winter. Fifth disease causes a reddish rash on the child's face that looks as if the child has been slapped.

• The virus is thought to spread via droplets in the air (respiratory secretions transmitted by coughs and sneezes) and blood. Early during the illness, nasal secretions have been shown to contain the viral DNA. Blood has been found to contain viral particles as well as DNA.

• Cases of fifth disease can occur either sporadically or as part of community outbreaks. Outbreaks occur mainly in elementary schools during the spring. Half of the cases occur from spread of the virus to others in the household. Transmission of the infection in schools is less common.

• At least half of adults have had the infection and are unlikely to be re-infected. About 10% or fewer of young children are immune.

• People with the illness are contagious before the onset of symptoms and are probably not contagious after they develop the rash. The incubation period from the time of acquiring the infection to the development of symptoms is usually between 4-14 days.