Slapped cheek

[ThingOneofYourNightmares]

I think both my children have this. Not definite yet but no doubt will be one way or the other in the morning.

Do I have to keep them at home? I seem to remember it being dangerous to pregnant women but NHS direct is bizarrely only directing me to a 2007 press release about popular search terms.

One has had a cold for five days (very snotty, some mild fever), the other for three (sore throat, tired, some mild fever). This afternoon they both developed a very bright red cheek on one side and a rashy red cheek on the other.

I don't know about keeping them at home but a friend has just lost a baby at about 18 weeks and has been told it was more than likely slapped cheek

If it is slapped cheek then they are not infectious once the rash has appeared.

My dd has recently had slapped cheek and we are advised by the gp to stay away from a pregnant relative and their children.

My GP reckons my DD has it, she had a cold for a week or so and yesterday had a fever of 102 and then red cheeks appeared, started off as angry welts (NHS direct thought allergy) but has now calmed down into a red rash.

I'm 18 weeks pregnant and off for blood tests to check for immunity. Gah.

I was told if the rash has appeared they are no longer infectious. I'm being cautious though as currently DS has the cold symptoms, but no rash.

Sounds like I need to ring the GP in the morning, but keep them off school and pre-school until I do. Gaaah. They're not really ill and are going to be so bored! But they're in contact with lots of children with pregnant or could-be-pregnant mums.

yes - keep them off. boring but best.

this is definitely slapped cheek. it is the 5th childhood disease and very contagious in the 10 day incubation period. You will probably find that most of the children in the class will get get it and sometimes the school. If there are alot of children with it ,it should be reported to local community health doctor as it can become epidemic. It did this when my DS2 was at school. He wasnt particularly ill ,just the red cheek and ear and very slighlt off colour.
TBH they are better getting it now,like chicken pox...as DSw2 gave it to me 10 years ago and i was really ill with it. I obviously hadnt had it as a child and i got really severe symptoms which the doctor didnt put down to slapped cheek(parvo virus B19) for 3 years. The symptoms were almost like ME for me and the docs thought i had this.
Children normally get over it in 10 days and often show very little symptoms.
Definitely keep them away from anyone pregnant as it can cause death to the foetus.

I suppose you can keep him off school if he is unwell, butmant dont. It is one of those things that you want them to catch as it is rare to get it again...like chicken pox.
I suffered for 4 years in total before they did the right blood test to find out that i had parvo and then i had to have an immunoglobulin transfusion for 1 week...i was really ill with it.

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