Fifth disease is a very common childhood disease. It is caused
by a viral attack that leads to a rash on the cheeks, arms and
legs. Fifth disease is also called “slapped cheek” disease
because the rash on the cheeks looks like the result of a slap.
The name “fifth disease” is a holdover from old French medical
terminology. Fifth disease is caused by the virus called human
parvovirus B19. Twenty percent of children contract the disease
by age five and that number jumps to sixty percent by age
nineteen. The infection is not serious and goes away about a
week after symptoms first appear. Symptoms of Fifth Disease
Early symptoms of fifth disease mimic those of the flu. They
include a runny nose, sore throat, headache, belly pain, mild
fever (around 100 degrees Farenhite), body weakness and joint
pain. Those symptoms are followed by a distinctive rash several
days later. The rash follows a predictable patters, usually in
three stages. During the first stage, a bright red rash occurs
in the sides of the face and so