Fifths Disease - Doylestown,PA

I was and my son I was pregnant with is a happy and healthy 4 year old. Well he does have asthma but that is genetic, not due to the fifths disease as far as I know. He was born at 36 weeks, but I also went early with 3 of my 4 children so as far as I know that was not due to fifths disease either. I was around 9 weeks pregnant with my son came out with the rash.

I did not get blood work done to see if I had had it. If I did not there was nothing I could do but to "wait it out" to see what happened. I chose not to because that would have been more stress on my pregnancy worrying what would happen. I never got the rash.

My thoughts are with you. I know how stressful stuff like this can be.

HUGS

Contagiousness

A person with parvovirus infection is most contagious before the rash appears — either during the incubation period (the time between infection and the onset of symptoms) or during the time when he or she has only mild respiratory symptoms. Because the rash of fifth disease is due to an immune reaction (a defense response launched by the body against foreign substances like viruses) that occurs after the infection has passed, a child is usually not contagious once the rash appears.

Parvovirus B19 spreads easily from person to person in fluids from the nose, mouth, and throat of someone with the infection, especially through large droplets from coughs and sneezes.

In households where a child has fifth disease, another family member who hasn't previously had parvovirus B19 has about a 50% chance of also getting the infection. Children with fifth disease may attend childcare or school, since they are no longer contagious. Once infected with parvovirus B19, a person develops immunity to it and won't usually become infected again.
Parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy may cause problems for the fetus. Some fetuses may develop severe anemia if the mother is infected while pregnant — especially if the infection occurs during the first half of the pregnancy. In some cases, this anemia is so severe that the fetus doesn't survive. Fortunately, about half of all pregnant women are immune from having had a previous infection with parvovirus. Serious problems occur in less than 5% of women who become infected during pregnancy.

I was 15 weeks when exposed to Fifths disease. My doctors assured everything would be ok. They said over 1/2 of childbearing women have had the disease and have antibodies against it. They tested me and I did have the antibodies. I wouldnt be concerned until you find out if you have been recently exposed.

Ann Marie
This same thing happened to a friend of mine also during her pregnancy. If I were you, I'd call my OB Dr. right away and ask what their opinion is. It will give you a better piece of mind to hear from the Doctor. Good luck!

My dd had this when my best friend was in her last trimester and it never affected her as we were together almost everyday before she broke out and my other dd never got it.
V.

I was exposed during my first trimester, and really the only thing you can do is wait for the blood test to check for your titers. it's quite likely you've had it before and have immunity.

if you do have an active form of the disease, your doc will instruct you and should inform you of the risks to your fetus. they will include a lot of scary stuff, however - as moms have posted here, not always worst case scenario.

try not to be too anxious. wait for the test results - they should be ready by tuesday.
C.
pax

Ann,

My neighbor was exposed and she saw a specialist. She started with the blood work to see if she was immune and she wasn't. The doc told her that she would be out of danger ten weeks from the exposure date. She had several ultra sounds to make sure the baby wasn't exposed. She hit her 10 weeks and is fine! If the baby would have developed symptoms they said they would of had to do a blood transfusion at 18 weeks. I hope this helps and good luck!

A.

Ann Marie, I was in a similar situation, I was in my second trimester however when my son had this. I had the original blood work done that came back that I had never been exposed to the disease prior to my son having the it. When the second set was done a month later I had been exposed to the disease at that time. From what my doctor had given me to read was that it really could only pose a problem if you are exposed between months 5 and 6. They will probably do more ultrasounds than normal to make sure that everything is ok. I had an ultrasound once a month for month six(the exposure month)and month seven. I then had one done every two weeks until I delivered.

GOOD LUCK

I am sort of in the same boat. I was exposed about 10 days before the rash appeared on a child I know. I am also in my first trimester. Her mother reassured me that the ped. told her that most adults had it but since it is pretty painless they don't remember having it. Chances are you had it but definatly go get screened to be in the safe side.

You may think me crazy...but I suggest starting with prayer. I had never heard of the disease. I met a woman (21) who had it when a child. While she was in our prescence (19 years later), a number of our friends got FIFTH DISEASE!

When she left, no one was sick.

KayMarie