Anyone Ever Had Fifth Disease as an Adult?

My daughter had it a few years ago and my son had it last summer. I never had either of them officially diagnosed, but their symptoms fit the description. And when my daughter had it, her teacher took one look at her and said Fifth's disease. Neither of them seem bothered too much by it. Although if they spent any time in the heat or sun, they started glowing red like they had a really bad sunburn.

A couple weeks after my son had it, I was trying to write something and my finger (one finger) was hurting. I looked down and saw the rash across my entire chest and down my arms. Then another finger started hurting. The rash eventually spread down to my legs. Within a few days the joints in my entire hand were aching. Gradually my other hand started aching too. My hands were swollen to the point that I couldn't wear my wedding ring and it took multiple painful tries just to get my bra hooked. Some days I could hardly hold a pencil. Then as my hands were just barely starting to get better, my feet started aching. My feet were the worst in the morning when I first got up. But they hurt if I did any walking at all. And of course, we were on vacation at the worst of it.

Basically, my kids seemed hardly bothered by it at all, but I was completely miserable. I think it was about 2 months (maybe even 3) before the pain completely went away. I know it got much better at some point but took a little longer to go away completely.

That's probably not what you want to hear. I hope you feel better quicker than I did.

1 mom found this helpful

my mom and i both had it as adults. it didn't hurt me as much as her. she was in a lot of pain. she had it for a week. it can last for a few months, but what i think he might mean is that if you get over heated or are out in the sun, it comes back. not as bad or anything but the rash can come back. you might want to check with your dr. and make sure. both of my kids had it, too. and it was only a week or week and a half and then it only came back when out in the sun or getting hot from playing inside.

its no fun my arms looked like doileys too...if i even spelled that right....i wore long sleeves everywhere in the dead of summer. it lasted about 5-6 weeks....worst case scenerio is lie 2.5 months i think....but it def got worse before it got better....
good luck!!!! youll be fine!!!

I got it while pregnant with our last. I contacted the doctor and she said there was no risk to baby because of where I was in gestation. I remember being sore on my hands and feet and having little sore spots. They went away after a week or so.

Hope you feel well sooooon!!

yeah and I was much sicker than the kids were. It was bad for about 2 weeks and then got better but the rash would come and go for a long time.

I had it in highschool and it was awful. I was down for a week and didn't feel like myself for at least another week.

there is no medication for fifth disease other than the meds for its symptoms.. what you need to do is to boost your immune system.. its viral so it has its own course or period when it will subside... take vit. c or even multiple vit... then drink a lot of water and fresh fruit juices....

take acetaminophen for pain and fever... you can ask for calamine lotion for your rashes...

rest...

-nursemama