I've Been Exposed to Fifths disease...should I Be Concerned??

http://www.medicinenet.com/fifth_disease/article.htm

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YES!! Fifth's disease can cause problems with your baby. Please get checked very soon.

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A., please get in touch with your doctor right away!!

1 mom found this helpful

I just did a little reasearch online and here's what I found. I hope your OB calls you back soon!

Pregnant women (who have not previously had the illness) should avoid contact with patients who have fifth disease. The fifth disease virus can infect the fetus prior to birth. And, while no birth defects have been reported as a result of fifth disease, it can cause the death of the unborn fetus. The risk of fetal death is 5-10% if the mother becomes infected.

-Char

How crazy! I work in an elementary school and it has been going around our school like wildfire. So interesting...I wonder what caused this little "epidemic." It has been spreading mostly with the little ones, but our principal got it and has the severe arthritic pain... He was in the hospital (it took them awhile to figure out what was going on) and can only walk with a walker right now! Its so weird that most people are immune to it; I had never even heard of it before the outbreak at school. Anyway... I am sure you will be fine and your little one, too. Those little babies are pretty resilient! :) Congratulations on your 4th little bundle of joy! I don't know how you do it! I'be always wanted 3 or 4 children, but our first little girl is 6 months old now, and we can't yet imagine adding to the family. I guess you get to that point though, because everyone does it! :) Good luck!

A.

How are you? I've been thinking about you all day.

I hope you are doing well and find the answers you need.

T. T.

I would be concerned about 5th disease. I believe it is a form of measles. Years ago my mom was not sure if I ever really had the meales hard enough so when I was in High School she had me get a shot to prevent it. I do believe it is contagious too. My dad never thought he would have children as his parents were Christian Science and did not believe in doctors. He got the measles while in the service and it was hard. He never thought he could have children but he did have 4. So please go and make sure it is ok. If you have been enoculated for measles it should be ok. But be safe. G.

HI,
I was exposed to Fifths Disease as well. Although it can be a problem in pregnant women, it is more common that you may realize. There is a blood test your OB should do and then you will go from there. My test was negative (for whatever it is they are looking for), so I didn't have to do anything else. Just get the test first before worrying, then go from there!!! Good Luck!!!

Yes...tell your Dr. There is a test they can do to see if you are immune to it. As a teacher, my Dr. did this when I first became pregnant and it turns out that I was immune, having been exposed to it countless times.

Yes, I would definitely let your OB know. There is a blood test they can do to see if you have it or if you are immune to it. I think in your 2nd & 3rd trimesters it's not as big of a deal but if you do get it, they will want to monitor your baby more often. I've read that about 85% of women are already immune to it as adults b/c of exposure as a child. However, it was going around my daughter's in-home preschool last summer and all of the kids got it and 2 of the moms got it, including my friend who was in her 3rd trimester with baby #2. She did get it and she was terribly sick for about 2 weeks. She had to have weekly sonograms the duration of her pregnancy to check for fluid around the baby's heart (i believe). However, everything was fine and the baby is very healthy and will be 1 in June :)

Good luck.

A.,

I was exposed to fifths disease in July, when I was in my second trimester. My 2 year old was sent home from daycare with a rash. When I took her to the pediatrician, they told me that she would be fine but I needed to contact my OB as a precaution since I was pregnant. My OB ordered a blood test to see if I was immune...and I was, like most women. Most women have had fifths disease well before they are pregnant, in which case it poses no problems.

If the blood test shows that you were recently infected, then you would probably be referred to a perinatologist for an ultrasound. I'm sure everything is fine; but I think it's important to get the blood test for peace of mind. If you have recently been infected, the perinatologist will keep a closer eye on you and may treat you/the baby for it.

I was 9 weeks pregnant and came down with 5th disease as well. I went to my OB and they ordered blood test and found out that I was not immuned and that I indeed had fifths disease. I had sever joint pain and red lacy rash on my body. My 2 year old had it and came home from school with it. They did several sonograms to monitor the baby and come to find out I had no trouble. The baby was fine and is now a healthy 5 month old. Let your OB know so they can monitor the baby, you are at a greater risk of miscarriage if you contact it before 20 weeks, but since you are past that point you are probably safe in that area, however they will monitor the baby and look for fetal hydrops which is fluid around the organs and most importantly the brain. However don't get concerned b/c my OB said that that condition only occurs in 1% of women who contact fifths disease when they are pregnant. You are probably not immuned since you have symptoms so definetly tell your doctor, but don't worry because more than likely your baby will turn out just fine and will suffer no effects from it.