Slapped Cheek lasting all week

[MT1525]

Hi all

My 5 yr old son started with shivers and mild temperature on Saturday midday. Vomited multiple times over the next 12 hours and slept lots. Sunday morning his cheeks were bright red and he carried on sleeping most of the day. Temperature was still up over Sunday night.

Now it's Thursday and all week he's had really bad cold symptoms and fatigue, and his temperature keeps going up and down. Very selective with food and his legs are achy so he's wobbly on his feet and doesn't want to walk around the house. He's still sleeping more than usual overnight. We've kept him off school all week and got checked by the doctor yesterday. Cheeks are still red on and off too but no other rash.

So it's most likely slapped cheek virus. It's not the common onset of symptoms though as he was fine until Saturday when it came on really suddenly. And it feels like it's taking ages for him to recover.

Is this like anyone else's experience of slapped cheek in children?

I feel a pressure for him to get back to school because it's "just" a mild virus, but he's never been this poorly before and definitely couldn't manage it.

Thanks

Its Parvovirus or Fifth Disease. As with most childhood illnesses, they can vary in severity.
Your LO has obviously had it badly. But it will clear up. You need to keep him away from anyone in early pregnancy, though.
Hope he's better soon.

Thanks so much for your reply @Oneearringlost

It's helpful to remember some people just get things worse than others. Wish there was something I could do to make it easier but we're trying all the usual things for a virus so will have to wait it out.

I let the school know on Monday and Tuesday about the virus and asked whether they wanted to let other parents know. I've just emailed them again to point out the risks for people in early pregnancy.

Thanks again

I caught this from my Dd and she recovered a lot faster than I did. It proper floored me for over a week and I had similar symptoms to what you are describing. I also caught hand, foot and mouth from my kids, I obviously didn’t get any of the usual childhood illnesses first time around!