Erythema Infectiosum
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Basics
Description
- Characteristic viral exanthem also known as fifth disease:
- Fifth most common childhood rash historically described
- Measles (first), scarlet fever (second), rubella (third), Duke disease (fourth), roseola (sixth)
- Common symptoms:
- Viral prodrome
- Followed by slapped-cheek rash
- Then subsequent diffuse reticular rash +/− arthropathy
- Most common in school-aged children <14 yr
- Usually self-limited with lasting immunity
- Rare complications and chronic cases in patients with congenital anemias or immunosuppression
- Potential for severe complications to fetus if infection acquired during pregnancy
- Possible link to encephalopathy, epilepsy, meningitis, myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, autoimmune hepatitis, HSP, ITP
Etiology
- Caused by human parvovirus B19, small SS-DNA virus:
- Infects human erythroid progenitor cells, suppressing erythropoiesis
- Most common in late winter and spring
- Transmitted via respiratory droplets and blood products as well as vertical maternal–fetal transmission
- Incubation period 4–21 d
- Most contagious during the week PRIOR to rash onset
- Majority of adults have serologic evidence of prior infection
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Basics
Description
- Characteristic viral exanthem also known as fifth disease:
- Fifth most common childhood rash historically described
- Measles (first), scarlet fever (second), rubella (third), Duke disease (fourth), roseola (sixth)
- Common symptoms:
- Viral prodrome
- Followed by slapped-cheek rash
- Then subsequent diffuse reticular rash +/− arthropathy
- Most common in school-aged children <14 yr
- Usually self-limited with lasting immunity
- Rare complications and chronic cases in patients with congenital anemias or immunosuppression
- Potential for severe complications to fetus if infection acquired during pregnancy
- Possible link to encephalopathy, epilepsy, meningitis, myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, autoimmune hepatitis, HSP, ITP
Etiology
- Caused by human parvovirus B19, small SS-DNA virus:
- Infects human erythroid progenitor cells, suppressing erythropoiesis
- Most common in late winter and spring
- Transmitted via respiratory droplets and blood products as well as vertical maternal–fetal transmission
- Incubation period 4–21 d
- Most contagious during the week PRIOR to rash onset
- Majority of adults have serologic evidence of prior infection
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