Fifth Disease Without the Body Rash?

My kids had the cheeks and cold and our dr said it was 5ths so good luck!!!

I was exposed to fifth's disease while pregnant with my oldest child. I was a teacher in a preschool where it was making the rounds. I was the only teacher for summer session, so we had to shut down the preschool until my OB GYN was satisfied that I was not susceptible. I don't remember ANY of the kids getting the full body rash, they all got ths slapped cheecks rash, but maybe only one had the body rash. So to answer your question, yes, it is possible to have it without the body rash. The OB had me take a test which determined that I was immune to it, then we started the school back up. I don't remember what the test was, it was 20 years ago. B.

My doc said about 50% of cases never even get the rash so no one knows they even had 5th disease. They also said that most people have had it in their lifetime and not to stress too much about it unless you start to show symptoms. The only way for it to harm the fetus is if you get it, and once you have been exposed it is a wait and see game. I would try not to stress about it, let your OB know you have been exposed and then if you show cold like symptoms call your OB again.

You might want to just get a blood test for yourself because it's not dangerous for your kids to have it. Also, if you get tested then you don't have to worry about your kids going through the pain of both getting tested. If you get tested and it shows that you have already had it (which most people already have) then everything is fine. We went through this too and the first time we tested our son, while I was pregnant, it came up that he'd never had it. Well, then he got exposed to it and that time we tested me and it showed I'd already had it! If we had done this the first time around I wouldn't have stressed out so much during my pregnancy with my daughter! Good luck!

Wow, I didn't know that this was still around. When my now 22yr old old 20 yr old were in elementary school they both got Fifth disease, but then it was only on their forearms. That seemed to be the case with the majority of their classmates, too. My oldest also had foot and mouth and scarlet fever. And both boys had chicken pox when I gave birth to my daughter, who then caught it at 2 wks of age. Try to wear a robe or other body covering outerwear that you can take off and wash immediately and wash, wash, wash your hands. I know it is frustrating.

Both my youngest had fifth disease this Christmas! But they both got the body rash. The baby had the rash extreme all over his arms,legs, face, and chest, the older one barely had the body rash. On him his arms just looked kinda red and sunburned, he got it a few days before the baby. The older one was so light with the rash that I doubted we had it, then when the baby got it I was SURE that was what they both had. I was watching for they signs since it was going around daycare, and when the baby got the rash I took them both to the dr. You two may have had a lighter case, or maybe you are correct in thinking that it is all the other linger illnesses. What a month for you all! Have the two been exposed to fifth disease recently? All the kids at the daycare that got the disease did get some kind of rash/redness at least on the arms. Good luck to you! And congrats on the newest addition!

my little one was miss diagnosed with fiths disease. she really had hand foot mouth. i would take your kids in asap to their dr. my daughters dr confirmed my suspicion of hand foot mouth. now my daughter had a horrid diaper rash but also had sores on her feet and hands (none in the mouth). she had the slapped cheek look (which isnt typical of hfmd). theres no medication to help get rid of either sickness you just have to wait it out. good luck!

can also be scarlet fever due to the slapped cheeks. I would call your pediatrician.

sometimes all you have is the slapped cheek. my son had the cheeks, and my daughter the full body rash. your OB will test you for antibodies (70% of adults have already either had it or were exposed and have the antibodies) and if you do, then nothing needs to be done. if not, they'll keep an eye on the baby with extra ultrsounds and blood tests about once a month to see if you develop 5th disease. even if you do develop the disease, the chance of anything happening to the fetus is less than 5%, so try not to stress. chances are you are already immune, most people just get the cold portion of 5th's and never get any rash. my daughter and son just had it at christmas, while i was about 7 months along and i went through all this fun stuff. fortunately i am immune, but its nice to know what you're up against. best wishes.

Hi T.,

My daughter has been diagnosed Fifth's disease with only the slap cheek and flu like symptoms appearing. She never had the rash. What I was told by her dr. was that they are contageous before the cheeks turn bright red, during the feverish/achey stage.....hence you don't know they have it until the cheeks turn red and of course by then you've exposed everyone that has been around them. My daughter had it in the spring time 3 years in a row from the age of 6-9 and hasn't had it since. She is now 12. Her cheeks do turn BRIGHT red when she excercises and it looks like slapcheek. I don't know if that's just how she gets or it is a side effect of having fifths disease. I know that it's a virus that stays dorment in the body and can creep up anytime. It's a little uncomfortable, but my daughter never complained about it. Her cheeks were on fire and were a little chapped but it did not keep her from playing.

Please talk to a dr. about your pregnancy, but as far as your kids, they should be just fine. My daughter is perfectly healthy and plays sports and is your typical pre-teen!!! :-)

Good Luck to you and congratulations on baby #3!!!

E.

I personally contracted fifth disease at age 11 and only had the face and hands rash

My 6mo daughter was diagnosed w/ 5ths and only had slap face rash, but I got it too and had severe joint pain (I am prone to this due to arthritis) that was so bad I couldn't pick up a tissue let alone my baby. Check w/ your OB re your fetus.