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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not realise Slapped Cheek could do this?

22 replies

FruitbatAuntie · 02/05/2013 09:33

I was aware that 'slapped cheek' syndrome was doing the rounds at all the local schools, and knew it was a pretty mild disease in kids, but I didn't know until last week what effects it can have in adults - I can't be the only one who doesn't know so thought I should warn you all!

I actually ended up in hospital for three days last week after literally every joint in my body swelled up and became excruciatingly painful. I was practically paralysed and had to be taken in in an ambulance Bloody agony....

The Drs were fairly convinced I'd had a huge flare up of Rheumatoid Arthritis and gave me steroid injections which eventually helped a lot. I'm still really achey though and my knuckles are all swollen up.

Blood test results have come back now - and I have had slapped cheek / parvovirus! It's not that unusual according to the rheumatologist consultant guy. DS2 (9m) has had red cheeks and a temp, but he's teething like mad so I never realised he was ill too. DS1 (7 yrs) has had a cold/cough and been a bit flushed but very mildly.

On reading about it, joint pain etc. was mentioned, but I didn't realise it could happen that severely!

I also now have the utmost sympathy for anyone with rheumatoid arthritis - wouldn't wish that pain on my worst enemy .

OP posts:

SillyTilly123 · 02/05/2013 09:37

All 3 of my dds have had slapped cheek the last week, but have been totally fine in themselves-just hope i have missed it. Apparently by the time the rash has come out it is no longer infectious, so they will of spread it round school (unwittingly) which will be how they caught it.

It can also cause miscarriage in early stages of pregnancy.

DinoSnores · 02/05/2013 09:37

You poor thing. That sounds awful. Part of the problem with dealing with slapped cheek is that it is contagious BEFORE the rash and then not contagious when the rash appears, so it is difficult to avoid. Get well soon.

EglantinePrice · 02/05/2013 09:40

YANBU.

I was temporarily disabled by slapped cheek for about a week last year. A friend has had similar this year. Like you I had just thought the children were teething.

It took months to completely go. There is a thread in general health about it Fruitbat.

DorisIsWaiting · 02/05/2013 09:40

DD1 and 3 had slapped cheek at christmas time (dd3 had the rash/ temp nearly 2 weeks!).

It has left both their imune systems really low and they have had cold after cold since then (normally fairly resilient).

Hope you feel better soon, I hadn't really heard of it till we had it but I was really nasty.

DinoSnores · 02/05/2013 09:41

Danger time for parvovirus in pregnancy is actually the second trimester, so pregnant women exposed to parvovirus should see their midwife/GP straight away and have blood tests and possibly extra scans arranged.

kim147 · 02/05/2013 09:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MusicalEndorphins · 02/05/2013 09:45

I knew it was dangerous if you have Hereditary Spherocytosis and get Parovirus,
but did not know it could do that to a healthy adult. I am glad you feel better now, it sounds like agony.

harleyd · 02/05/2013 09:46

i had never heard of it before until i found out at about 10 weeks pregnant that i'd been exposed to it. blood test confirmed i was immune, apparently about 70% of people are immune.

maddening · 02/05/2013 09:48

Yanbu - it can also be fatal to unborn babies.

Original poster

FruitbatAuntie · 02/05/2013 09:56

Blimey, I hope I don't go on to catch loads of stuff now due to crap immune system! Consultant said that 1 in 10 go on to have lifelong arthritis (they may have developed it anyway), 2 in 10 have symptoms dragging on for a few months, and 7 in 10 recover in a couple of weeks and have no other problems.

I feel pretty awful as I took myself and both my DSs to a barbecue/party two days before all this happened, so I've probably passed it on too. Thankfully no pregnant women there AFAIK.

I didn't really equate 'can cause joint pain/aches' with 'can render you immobile and screaming with pain while your hands and feet swell to four times their normal size'! Assumed it would be a flu-like achiness/tiredness. No such luck.

DP had a hell of a time looking after our EBF baby (he has solids too but won't touch a bottle/any other liquid) while I was in hospital. He had to bring him in during the day for me to feed him. Had to hold him while I fed him too as I couldn't lift him or even hold him steady. DP says he now gets why I am so tired all the time!

OP posts:

KobayashiMaru · 02/05/2013 10:02

It's not just adults, my four year old was hospitalised with parvovirus.

3dolls · 02/05/2013 10:04

DD2 got it aged 7.5yrs and her knees and elbows were swollen and painful for a couple of days, as well as the red face (actually it worked its way down to her toes, her butt was spectacularly red :O ). She was quite poorly with it. I was in my 3rd trimester with DD3 at the time, so just out of the danger-zone - I have no idea if i had it as a child or not.

It was the pharmacist who told me it looked like parvo, so I went home and asked Dr Google. Went to GP who was a bit dismissive (I specifically asked about SIL who was due to visit and was just nearing 2nd trimester) but he rang me later (he'd clearly read the same webpages!!) to say tell sil to keep away.

Interesting about the weakened immune system - she has had a lot of colds, tummybugs since, and now needs an inhaler if she gets a headcold.

Poledra · 02/05/2013 10:04

I've had this, though not as bad as you. I can remember lying in bed crying, with my arms crossed over my chest so that my hands weren't actually touching anything as I couldn't bear the pain of my hands being in contact with anything else. I also had a EBF baby, who DH was having to lift and place on the bed so she could nurse.

It went within 7 weeks, and I have had no further problems since (and the EBF baby is now 5) but it was excruciating. They also thought I had RA at first, and DH got really stressed about it.

On a mildly amusing note, when my blood test results came back, the GP phoned and said 'The lab have insisted I phone you and check that you're not pregnant, as you have parvovirus and that can be dangerous in pregnancy. Given that I saw your baby two days ago, I'm sort of assuming you're not pg but it';s best to check!'

sparklekitty · 02/05/2013 10:20

It's nasty for adults and pregnant ladies. I had a panicked dash to the mw in the early stages of my preg after slapped cheek did the rounds at school. I am totally immune (apparently the majority of adults are) so was fine but it is a nasty illness.

PacificDogwood · 02/05/2013 10:22

Many viral illness can give you a reactive arthritis, not just Parvovirus.

'Tis hugely nasty to non-immune pregnant ladies or rather their babies

And DS3(5) had it recently and he was ill . Took a full 10 days to approach his normal self again.

PacificDogwood · 02/05/2013 10:23

illnesses sorry

sparkle12mar08 · 02/05/2013 10:32

I had parvo during pregnancy and it was a very worrying time. I've posted about it here before but long story short, I wasn't immune and had an active outbreak at 18 weeks. I had expedited blood tests and a long series of extra scans to check ds2's development. Thankfully we were both fine. The combination of circumstances that would lead to a tragic pregnancy outcome are thankfully very very rare, but they do exist sadly, and there's little that can be done.

mummytime · 02/05/2013 11:45

It is also something that can re-occur for a while, and I think sunlight can be bad for it?

scarletcrossbones · 02/05/2013 11:54

Wow, I had no idea about this. My 3 had slapped cheek last week, all mild, just kept DS1 off school for a single day ... but whaddya know, my hands got swollen and stiff for several days too. I hadn't a clue about any link like this. Am still waking up with headaches each day so still not 100%.

Sorry you had such an awful time of it, Fruitbat!

hazeyjane · 02/05/2013 12:01

I am still recovering from it too. Horrible, at it's worst I was lying on the floor unable to get, and dh was panicking, saying we needed to get an ambulance!

I keep getting flare ups, in different parts of my body, so one night my hips will be agony, and the next my hands are numb and stiff. It is the oddest thing. Dd1 then had it, and was ill but without the stiffness, and ds is recovering from it, still has rashy limbs.

That is worrying about the immunity thing, ds's is already fucked, and he is prone to pneumonia.

Twattybollocks · 02/05/2013 14:08

Ds had it the week before dd2 was born, he is 8yo and had the most horrendous rash all over him. He had several days off school with it, and was quite poorly with a temp. No one else in the family caught it thank goodness.

TeWiSavesTheDay · 02/05/2013 14:14

I am 16wks pregnant and my DC had it last week, I was ill this weekend (but quite mildly)

Very worried and awaiting results of my blood test to see if I have immunity. It's good to hear your pregnancy went well despite this happening to you too sparkle

Incidently my MIL caught it badly as an adult too - she couldn't walk for a week!

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