Human Parvovirus
Fifth Disease - Information on Fifth Disease
Especially common in kids between the ages of 5 and 15, fifth disease typically produces a distinctive red rash on the face that makes the child appear to have a "slapped cheek." The rash then spreads to the trunk, arms, and legs. Fifth disease is actually just a viral illness that most kids recover from quickly and without complications.
Fifth disease is caused by infection with human parvovirus B19. This virus infects only humans. Pet dogs or cats may be immunized against "parvovirus," but these are animal parvoviruses that do not infect humans. Therefore, a child cannot "catch" parvovirus from a pet dog or cat, and a pet cat or dog cannot catch human parvovirus B19 from an ill child.
The virus is thought to spread via droplets in the air (respiratory secretions transmitted by coughs and sneezes) and blood. Early during the illness, nasal secretions have been shown to contain the viral DNA. Blood has been found to contain viral particles as well as DNA.
The bright red cheeks are a defining symptom of the infection in children (hence the name "slapped cheek disease"). Occasionally the rash will extend over the bridge of the nose or around the mouth. In addition to the red cheeks, children often develop a red, lacy rash on the rest of the body, with the upper arms and legs being the most common locations.
Fifth disease (erythema infectiosum) is a common, usually mild illness spread through the air from an infected person's cough or sneeze. In children, it causes a distinctive aslapped cheeka rash and, less commonly, a low-grade fever, headache, sore throat and joint pain.
Many people with fifths disease show no symptoms at all. Therefore, the only way to definitively diagnose it is to have a test. Approximately 50-60% of adults have had the disease and are immune. However, those who are not immune may be at risk from picking up this infection, particularly healthcare providers, childcare providers and teachers.
While the illness is not serious in children, around 5% of children and around 50% of adults with fifth disease can have joint aches and pains. This arthritis or arthropathy is more common in females than males and is usually temporary, lasting days to weeks, but may become a long-term problem for months. People with arthritis from fifth disease usually have stiffness in the morning, with redness and swelling of the same joints on both sides of the body (a "symmetrical" arthritis). The joints most commonly involved are the knees, fingers, and wrists.
Fifth disease is caused by human parvovirus B19. It often affects preschoolers or school-age children during the spring. The disease is spread by contact with respiratory secretions and usually return for 5 days. However, the rash associated with fifth disease may return for several weeks. Return of the rash may be brought on by sunlight, heat, exercise, fever, or emotional stress.
It is easy to catch fifth disease. Infected people have the virus in their saliva and mucus. You can get it when you come into contact with those fluids. Frequently washing your hands might help prevent getting the virus. Most people become immune to the virus after having it once.
One to two weeks after exposure, some children will experience a low grade fever and tiredness. By the third week, a red rash generally appears on the cheeks giving a slapped face appearance. The rash may then extend to the body and tends to fade and reappear. Sometimes, the rash is lacy in appearance and may be itchy.
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Can parvovirus be transferred?
So I was recently diagnosed with human parvovirus b19 and ive heard that dogs get parvovirus. Can my dogs catch parvovirus from me?
Can Parvovirus spread from dogs to humans?
Our new puppy has been diagnosed positive for parvovirus. He is at the vet on medication. My wife doesn’t want to have him back for fear of infecting the children. Is her fear justified?
Is it really possible that I could have human parvovirus?
I’ve been sick for the past couple of months. It started with strep throat. Then I developed bronchitis leading to pneumonia leading to asthma. I have had a persistant cough and sore throat through all of this. Every time I finish my antibiotics it seems to just come back. My doctor ran some blood test. The Mono test came back normal but I’m still waiting for the Parvovirus test to come back. Why would he test for that if I haven’t developed a rash? Is it possible that this could be the reason for my recurring illnesses?
can cats give humans parvovirus?
My son caught parvovirus recently and he came out in a rash, he got it soon after leaving his grandma’s house who has indoor cats, so is it likely he caught it from there? What are the symptoms in cats?
It is not likely that it will transfer to your children because it is species specific. The best thing to do is to keep you children away from the recovering pup until it is well. If you child is touching the puppy and forgets to was her hands you might have an issue. You should never say never about a virus. the are very adaptable in any environment, how do you think HIV came about? Just be careful . The feces of the sick puppy is highly infected. try to get you puppy to the vet for IV treatment and try not to feed your puppy and thing until he is better. the thing that kills puppies with parvo is dehydration, so the constant vomiting is a huge factor. Try to get your pup to a vet for fluids. and DO NOT let your children handle your puppy, you or your wife only and keep contamination in the home down to a minimum, WASH YOU HANDS after touching the puppy, and Parvo stays in your soil for 7 years. so if you get another puppy it will most likely get infected unless it has a strong immune system.
Apparently if he waits until a rash shows, you are no longer contagious. So apparently yes.
What is Parvovirus 16, is it the same as B19 (Human)?
recent blood tests after a flu like illness came back showing I had a parvovirus 16. All I can find on the ‘net is B19., so is it essentially the same as all the symptons seemed similiar. I am female, had a rash, extreme joint pain and swelling etc. Still fatigued after a few weeks but slowly improving
That’s what they call “fifth disease” in humans. It’s a parvo virus, but totally different than the parvo virus that infects dogs and cats. Very few animal diseases jump over to humans. Dog parvo is dog-specific, and very fatal. Cat parvo is cat specific (yes, cats get parvo!) and is what we call distemper, and it’s also very fatal. Human parvo causes a mild rash. It’s tranmitted like many other cold viruses – from contact with another person who has it. Your son didn’t catch it from his grandmother’s cats, he caught it from another person.
If those cats had distemper they’d be dead
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as far as i can tell it seems to be the same thing. i just looked too. if you are really unsure youcan callyour dr and ask what exacly it is and how to prevent it in the future. get well soon