Slapped cheek - when are they no longer infectious?

[olivo]

Is it when the bdy rash arrives? We stil ldont know if that's what the DDs have had, but it is looking likely. DD1 seems totally better, no bright cheeks and has had an arm and leg rash for a few days, not giving her any bother. Dd2 has a mild rash on her arms and legs which arrived last night. are they safe to send to school? They are not unwell in themselves - that bit happened in the holidays, we thought they both had colds as there was lots of snot and coughing.

When the rash arrives.

Sorry posted too soon. They are safe to go to school.

Thanks, that's what I thought but the web info I've found is a bit vague.

My DSS aged 4 got it and I was worried for my newborn, so put call into HV who confirmed that if he had rash he was already past infectious stage. Separately, DSS's mum took him to GP same day and said he was fine to go to school next day. Same as your DC's, he was unwell the week before.

Thanks. I feel bad that we didn't realise that is what it was, we thought they had both caught it a couple of months ago. Thankfully, they'll have been at their most infectious when we stayed at home in the holidays as they were feeling rough.

It's a tricky one to spot, as you said the infectious stage presents itself as cold symptoms, which is why it spreads like wildfire. Don't feel bad!

its still infectious when the face rash is present, it is not once the body rash appears

Ah. What about if the face rash is stil others but the body rash is alas there?

Sorry, posted too soon. What about if the face rash is still there but the body rash has appeared?

Hmm, well the GP gave my DSS the ok to go to school the next day and he only had the bright red cheeks that morning, the arms and legs rash came out a day or so later..

yes once body rash is out, not infectious even if face rash still present.

Meanto, I disagree with your GP!

Sorry Olivo if I've given dodgy advice then! Just did as GP advised, quite shocking if wrong as we sent DSS next day not knowing he could still be passing it on.

Health Protection Agency

Great Ormond Street Hospital

The GP was correct. The child is no longer infectious once the rash appears, and 'the rash' applies to the facial rash, which occurs before the body rash, which in any case may not appear at all.

Around 25% of people have no symptoms whatsoever.

Ahh thank you, lougle. Phew!

Thank you. We took her to nursery today, she still has the body rash, but cheeks have gone down. They were happy to have h as she was fine in herself.

I assume they can't catch it again? Just waiting for my turn now

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Slapped-cheek-syndrome/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

looks like there is a lot of confusion!

who knows!

Glad this was here - I'm pretty sure dd2 has it. She was under the weather today at school but came home on the bus fine as usual. She's definitely warm and looks like this ! I couldn't get hold of her violin teacher before she got here, but she reckons she had it as a child.

Not sure about school - I know 2 teachers are pg but not hers, and if she has the face rash then the most infectious bit is past anyway I think.

I'd usually run it by dh (who is a GP) before bothering with appointments at our own doctor as its hard for me to travel due to disability. But he's in the middle of his own clinic just now and I have to cancel something for tomorrow if she'll be off, by 5.30 this evening to let my own students know ill not be in work. Aaargh!

I'm now sporting the flaming cheeks!

She's off, mainly cos she doesn't feel well, been up in the night. I'm coming down with it too I think, got temp, sore throat and nausea, and feeling fluey and still.