Slap face virus?

[Patty A]

Have you ever heard of "slap face virus, aka Fifth disease, aka Human parvovirus B19".
I know its a childhood disease caused my a virus, usually the 'fifth" in line that child get (hence the name fifth disease).

It is hightly contagious, spread by coughing and sneezing. Mostly affects young children but adults can get it. Only dangers are to PG women in the first part of the pregnancy.
It can cause swelling of the joints.

Have you ever heard of it?

It seems to be going around here in some of the public schools, looking like it might be an epidemic outbreak of this stuff. Makes me wonder where is comes from?

[pip]

I'm going to repost, our internet is acting funny... this virus has been around for a long time. My ods had it many years ago while in preschool. He really only had the red cheeks, no other symptoms. But because of the danger to those who are pregnant, it's good to keep the kids home who have it, to avoid exposure.

[AmyBoz]

Yep...we had a rash of it at camp a few years ago. They made me stay home as I was 3 months pregnant with dd. Pretty common, actually. I agree with Pip...kids who have it should stay home and not infect the others.

[Persimmon Lace]

We closed the preschool for a long weekend from Thursday to Monday and disinfected everything a few years ago. All it takes is one child and then if's off like wildfire!

[rosey7415]

that is what i got in january. i didn't go to the drs. as i had no insurance but my dh is a busdriver. of course, he never gets sick but brings home all the germs to me.....lol he was told that it was the slap virus as well from children's parents on the bus. all i know is i was down for about 2 days with the shivers....really bad shivers, nothing would warm me up and i was shaking badly. finally warming towels and my bean bag type heating pads in the microwave are the only thing that worked to stop my shivering. it was really strange as i never had anything that affected me that way before.

[IntlMom]

it's going around the preschool and elem school here too - weird, eh?

[brenda67]

My son had fifth disease 11yrs ago(he was 5yrs old)..It freaked me out as I had never heard(or seen) of it at the time..a matter of fact I've never heard about this disease again until you just posted about it..

[Patty A]

Funny how we all agree that the kids should stay home and not infect others, yet the doctor said.....send him to school on Monday. Everyone already has it so he acts like it won't be a big deal. What scares me about the whole thing is how many "mom's to be" won't even know they have been exposed as it is most contagious before the rash shows up and you know anyone is sick!
With this being a "kid disease" I am sure it would be much harder on adults. Its no wonder you was so sick with it Rosey! Glad it over and your feeling better!
Thanks guys, I just thought the doctor was way off on saying to send the kid back so soon with it being so contagious. No wonder it spreads so fast, no one takes it serious and it spreads fast.

[Nana2two]

Yep my kids have had.My son who has C.P was put in the hospital. He had a really high fever, it can be dangerous for children that have medical problems. My daughter got it 3 weeks later, she had a high fever and rash.. Kids get in preschool and first few years of grade school,the older they get ,symptoms are less. For adults, its just like a cold. I never came down with when my kids had it.

[phoeny_moonstar]

Wow,i've never heard of this before. It's kind of scary to think about something like this.

[Patty A]

Here is the information from the CDC, it really explains it well.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/.../parvo_b19.htm
I didn't know it was so common, and the damage (spread) happens even before you know you have it. That is the part that is spooky, you don't even know you are exposing people.