Slap-Cheek.......

[Thirtysix]

I have been told we have an outbreak locally and that it is "highly" infectious.

Just wondered if anyone had any experience of it?

DD is 9mts so I am told,too young to get it although I am not convinced.

Anyone know the symptoms to look for..........other than the obvious :0

[Twiglett]

its a mild illness

they get red cheeks that look like they've been slapped (hence the name)

fever and uncomfortable for a couple of days

and it all goes

Don't worry too much, if he's going to catch it he will ... who told you he was too young? that makes no sense

[popsycalindisguise]

ds1 had it three weeks ago and it knocked him for six
he had a particular bad case as it is usually mild and some people dont even realise they have had it

ds2 (11 months) has escaped it thoguh

[doormat]

dd3 had this last year, she is 15
basically it looked like she had been slapped across the face and she had a rash on her wrists and she was itchy, also very tired.

it is highly contagious and she had to spend 3 weeks off school
doctor also advised for dd NOT to go near a pg woman.
HTH

[Twiglett]

I think slapped cheek is the one they also call fifth disease, because its the 5th most common childhood ailment .. I might be wrong on that though

[popsycalindisguise]

it isi fifths disease

once they have the rash though (and ds1 had it all over his body too....) it is no longer contagious

avoid pregnant women yes

[Marina]

If you are pregnant and not immune it is wisest to avoid catching it before 20 weeks. There is a SMALL risk of damage to the unborn baby if under 20 weeks' gestation.
Most people born and raised in the UK have had it, although because of its utter mildness as a childhood illness, it often doesn't show on your medical records.
Quite possible to just think your child is looking a bit pink round the chops

[Marina]

Blimey doormat, your dd must have had it worse than most
Ds got it when I was 20 weeks pregnant and I panicked (I had a previous stillbirth). I had my immunity checked and luckily I was immune. Complications are rare apparently, but they do happen

[doormat]

Marina, I didnt know about the syndrome until I took dd to doc, school refused to have her present in case she came in contact with pg women.

[LIZS]

Sorry, ds had it at 8 months probably caught at a creche he attended one a week. Most common among preshcoolers and those attending daycare. Look for bright red cheeks, fever , runny nose, general lethargy and feeling unwell. There is also a botchy lacey rash which appears on the body and the red cheeks may come several days after the other symptoms start. (I had put that down to teething ) ds was actually quite unwell for about 10 days . As it is viral there is little you can do apart form treat the symptoms with Calpol etc and let it run its course.

[prettybird]

My colleague's twins got it when they were one month old - but as they were two months premature, there were effectively minus one month old! Their claim to fame is that they are the youngest babies ever to have been diagnosed with it!

It took a wee while for them to be diagnosed,as it was a toddler disease.

BTW - they are fine now and our about 18 months old.