Slapped cheek disease, fifth disease, or its more clinical sounding name parvovirus B19 infection, is a mild and common rash illness that requires little treatment in most children. However, the infection in some pregnant women can lead to serious health problems for the fetus. You can determine your risk by accessing the fifth disease website here.

The infection is sometimes called slapped cheek disease because of its distinctive face rash, and it is sometimes referred to as fifth disease due to it being one of the five common childhood illnesses characterized by a rash.

The infection spreads person-to-person, most commonly through respiratory secretions and hand-to-hand contact. The illness is contagious in the week before the rash is apparent.

There is no vaccine for parvovirus B19 infection, however, once you've been infected, you acquire lifelong immunity.

The Michigan Department of Community Health lists parvovirus B19 infection as a common childhood illness. The department offers an excellent resource for managing communicable diseases, tips on prevention, recognizing symptoms, and incubation and contagious periods.

An explanation of slapped cheek disease

Source: Grand Rapids Public Health Examiner

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