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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

parvo virus in adults

31 replies

alypaly · 19/09/2009 23:41

anyone had any experiences?

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hippipotamiHasLost66lbs · 19/09/2009 23:45

Yes, I had this many many years ago. (I would have been in my mid twenties)
Iirc the symptoms were flu-like but with an itchy rash and stiff neck.
Nothing too serious, in fact my GP found the whole thing quite amusing

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alypaly · 19/09/2009 23:58

hippipotamiHasLost66lbs thanks for replying...funkycool and i have been chatting about long term problems health issues. Mne were related to parvo and wre pretty serious... her symptoms are virtually the same as mine..
Were you actually tested for this virus

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alypaly · 20/09/2009 00:00

hippipotamiHasLost66lbs ..wre you in contact with young children that had it

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hippipotamiHasLost66lbs · 20/09/2009 00:01

No, I don't think so. In fact my GP took one look at my symptoms, told me 'Parvo Virus' and gave me antibiotics. And that was the end of it as far as I recall.

How horrid you have long term complications following it.
I must have had it very mildly then (if I even had it at all because I don't remember being tested)

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hippipotamiHasLost66lbs · 20/09/2009 00:02

No to the children question - I had no children at the time and did not work with children. So no, no contact with children.

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Poledra · 20/09/2009 00:08

I had parvo in the spring of this year, and was genuinely worried that I was developing something serious - I had such terrible pain in my hands and arms that I couldn't lift my then-9-mo baby. Ouch. I was actually blood-tested then got a call from the GP to check I wasn't pg! Other than that, I got an anti-inflammatory and paracetamol. Am a bit at your GP prescribing antibiotics for a virus, hippipotamiHasLost66lbs...... naughty!

I have 3 small children and it was the 5-yo that brought it home from school and gave to me and the 3-yo - thanks, DD1!

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alypaly · 20/09/2009 00:12

hippipotamiHasLost66lbs... im glad you are ok but why did a gp give antibiotics for a virus????

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alypaly · 20/09/2009 00:15

Poledra ... did you parvo test come back +ve then.How did your gp think to test for parvo... was it because DD1 was already diagnosed with it?

thats intersteing as it was my DS2 that gave it to me too.
Have your symptoms gone or has it left you with any problems

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funkycool · 20/09/2009 10:00

Hi, alypaly and I have been chatting on the thread I started called 'Heavy periods - tranexamic acid' - scroll past the first 20 msgs or so.

I'm 42 - it's so distressing feeling unwell. I've always been fit and healthy.

When I became v. ill in march, my DC were 9 and 3, so one at school, one at nursery. I've no idea if they had this virus, would it always be obvious in children? I might check with the school and nursery if there were any outbreaks around march.

I've been worrying about IBD/crohns because my bowels are not right, but then again I have so many other symptoms. My whole body has been affected in some way or other.

I think I'll wait to see the result of the auto-immune test and then go from there.

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alypaly · 20/09/2009 10:08

how even more similar,i was 41 when mine started.

some children have a face that looks as if it has been slappped.[i.e one ot two extremely red cheeks]
Some children are unwell for a few days and just dont appear to be themselves.Its severity varies alot but most parents. some get a slightly raised temp or just general malaise. but normally if it is a whole class or year the authorities often know of and outbreak. Ring your local infectious disease team ,they are you best port of call

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funkycool · 20/09/2009 10:23

Thanks alypaly. I wonder if I would have heard something from the school, but I'll check if there was a local outbreak.

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alypaly · 20/09/2009 10:52

bear in mind some arent registered...it depends on how good the school is at informing local infectious disease centres and how good gp is a realising that there may have been a potential outbreak.
In 1997 which i believe was the year i got it, there were significant outbreaks in the stockport and chesire area. My youngest was 5-6 years old when i caught it not 7/8... that was when i started to get treatment treatment).

you would be unlikely to hear from the school, if it had been reported, you should have got a letter from local health authority.Easy enough for the comunity infectious disease unit to check though. They are normally really helpful.
I saw a dr called Dr Baxter in stockport and he was really helpful. He slso repeated and confirmed my blood test as it was ultimately important to him

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Poledra · 20/09/2009 11:47

Sorry, alypaly, went to bed last night and didn't see your post. Re my blood tests, my GP sent off a screening sample, looking at inflammatory markers and such like for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. She also screened for viruses, and the standard screen for the local hospital includes parvo, so that came back positive and fitted with my symptoms.

I haven't got any long-term complications, thank god. It took about 2 weeks for the intense pain to go, then another 3-4 weeks for the dull ache to pass off.

Sorry for any misspellings, that 9-mo baby is now 14 months and trying to 'help' me type

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hippipotamiHasLost66lbs · 20/09/2009 12:46

I have no idea why he gave me antibiotics for a virus - it was 13 - 15 years ago so perhaps that was the done thing then?
He definately told me I had parvo virus because I remember him telling me it was a canine disease and not to stop at any lampposts on the way home
Looking back now I should have complained about him but I did not feel too ill apart from feeling generally unwell and flu-like - although the stiff neck was the worst - and I have luckily not had any further effects as far as I am aware.

I will bow out of this thread now as my brush with parvo was mild and a long time ago and I feel I cannot really contribute.

I hope you feel better soon!

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alypaly · 20/09/2009 17:39

funky cool just read my message from 10.08am.
Sorry it was a bit garbled.I put most parents...when i meant most patients.
My brain was working faster than my fingers...oops sorry. will check what i have written before i post next time;

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alypaly · 20/09/2009 17:42

Poledra really good that your local hospital screens for is as a matter of course. It is so important, as it can cause serious problems if you contract it whilst pregnant...they must be on the ball.

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alypaly · 20/09/2009 17:43

hippipotamiHasLost66lbs thanks dor your input.... mind those lamp posts too

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hippipotamiHasLost66lbs · 20/09/2009 20:14

Thanks aly

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funkycool · 20/09/2009 22:14

alypaly - no it wasn't garbled at all! When I've read a couple of my posts again I noticed loads of typos and a couple of words mispelt.

I'm hoping the blood test results will be back in the next few days, so will keep posting. Please keep reading!

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morocco · 20/09/2009 22:19

I had parvo when I was mid twenties - didn't get the rash but got arthritis type symptoms - was v painful and lasted quite a few months before i felt back to normal. I wouldn't have known it was parvo except my colleague got it as well and had to be blood tested as was pregnant. wasn't impressed to read painful joints were common in middle aged women!

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Danthe4th · 20/09/2009 22:50

Parvo virus causes slapped cheek disease, quite a few children have just had it at school. Most people are immune, thankfully.

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Poledra · 20/09/2009 22:59

aly my local hospital is a large nationally (and possibly internationally)-renowned teaching and research hospital.

Apparently the lab guys had called the GP with the results immediately in case I was pg. Given that the GP had prescribed my minipill and knew I was still bfeeding, she was fairly sure I was not, but still called me to confirm. Overall, a pretty good service I have to say.

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alypaly · 21/09/2009 10:19

Poledra ...thats good service as parvo can cause fatalities in pregnancy for baby and awful complications

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funkycool · 23/09/2009 17:27

alypaly - hi, hope you are still there!

I called the cardiologist's office today to see if the results of my auto immune blood test were back in. His secretary said that they were and that that the results were in the normal range. Big relief! She hasn't got around to typing up the letter he is sending to me so I don't know if he will have any other info. or suggestions in that later until I receive it later in the week.

Do you know if that means there's no need to have the parvo test?

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chimchar · 23/09/2009 17:42

my mum had it a few years ago. she suffered with arthritic problems anyway, but became bedridden and very very unwell for a few months because of it.

my friend caught it from her young ds who had "slapped cheek" and sadly had a miscarriage at about 28 weeks caused by the virus.

its nasty...hope you're ok.