Slapped cheek? | Mumsnet

redddssak · 2024-04-17T18:08:08+00:00

I have no other symptoms I don’t feel unwell etc but since Saturday I had these red, little like spot patches quite dry on my right cheek, then since then on and off my cheeks been going red and hot, I do get it mainly when waking up after sleeping or in a hot room etc I haven’t been exposed as I know to anyone with slapped cheek so could this just be bad skin/ pregnancy hormones making me flush

Original poster

redddssak · 17/04/2024 19:09

I’m 31 weeks and quite worried as doesn’t slapped cheek cause horrible outcomes for baby

OP posts:

AllThePotatoesAreSinging · 17/04/2024 19:14

Go and get it checked at the doctors, a blood test will rule it out.

Some people have no symptoms and no issues. I’m just recovering from it. I had what felt like flu for a few days, then agonising cramps in my legs, barely able to walk for the best part of a week, swollen joints and I’ve not been able to use my arms or hands for 3 weeks now, carpal tunnel type issues from the joint inflammation. Most adults won’t get red cheeks - I did, along with red arms, legs, back and in a hives like pattern. The redness came last. Because of the range of symptoms (or lack of) a blood test is the only way of confirming it or ruling it out - best to be on the safe side.

My kid literally got red cheeks and carried on as normal.

Original poster

redddssak · 17/04/2024 19:22

ill ring doctor tomorrow and ask to speak to my midwife, I have no rash anywhere else etc just worried sick now to be honest its one worry after the next for me at the moment

OP posts:

AllThePotatoesAreSinging · 17/04/2024 20:12

redddssak · 17/04/2024 19:22

ill ring doctor tomorrow and ask to speak to my midwife, I have no rash anywhere else etc just worried sick now to be honest its one worry after the next for me at the moment

I wouldn’t worry. You have to be in pretty close contact with someone who had it, and this will most likely be a small child. Have you been in contact with small children a week or so before your cheeks flushed? I mean REALLY close contact (my 3 year old is generous with his kisses and his germs!). Adults who get it in later life tend to catch it from their children.

Most people get it before the age of 5 and it’s one and done. If you’ve had no flu symptoms, not been in contact with children (or heard of anyone else with it), and not had any symptoms other than flushed cheeks then it’s more than likely normal pregnancy flushing (75% of women!).

CancelledCheque · 17/04/2024 20:14

Hi there, I’m actually waiting for the results of my blood test to check if I have had slapped cheek. So I’ve looked up the guidance and if you contact your GP or midwife with your concerns, they can arrange for you to have testing to check.

The risky time for exposure to slapped cheek is between 9 and 20 weeks: after this gestation, the risks to the baby drop dramatically. Apparently 60-70% of pregnant women have prior immunity to the virus and are not at risk: the blood test will show if that is the case for you.

Here is a link to the guidance. I hope you find it reassuring.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/parvovirus-b19

Parvovirus B19: guidance, data and analysis

The characteristics, symptoms and epidemiology of parvovirus B19 (also known as slapped cheek syndrome, fifth disease, or erythma infectiosum).

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/parvovirus-b19

Original poster

redddssak · 17/04/2024 20:38

AllThePotatoesAreSinging · 17/04/2024 20:12

I wouldn’t worry. You have to be in pretty close contact with someone who had it, and this will most likely be a small child. Have you been in contact with small children a week or so before your cheeks flushed? I mean REALLY close contact (my 3 year old is generous with his kisses and his germs!). Adults who get it in later life tend to catch it from their children.

Most people get it before the age of 5 and it’s one and done. If you’ve had no flu symptoms, not been in contact with children (or heard of anyone else with it), and not had any symptoms other than flushed cheeks then it’s more than likely normal pregnancy flushing (75% of women!).

Edited

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No no small children in my family so I’ve not been in any contact with any.
the redness comes and goes like this is it now after getting some fresh air and don’t feel hot anymore just have little redness and some like dry spot things which I was worried was a rash

OP posts:

Original poster

redddssak · 17/04/2024 20:39

CancelledCheque · 17/04/2024 20:14

Hi there, I’m actually waiting for the results of my blood test to check if I have had slapped cheek. So I’ve looked up the guidance and if you contact your GP or midwife with your concerns, they can arrange for you to have testing to check.

The risky time for exposure to slapped cheek is between 9 and 20 weeks: after this gestation, the risks to the baby drop dramatically. Apparently 60-70% of pregnant women have prior immunity to the virus and are not at risk: the blood test will show if that is the case for you.

Here is a link to the guidance. I hope you find it reassuring.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/parvovirus-b19

Thank you ! Hope your tests come back all ok !

OP posts:

CancelledCheque · 17/04/2024 20:42

Thank you OP: I’m quite sure I have caught it recently and I’m in the higher risk window, so it’s a little worrying but I’m trying to focus on the high likelihood that everything should be ok. Anyway, I thought I would pass on the information I found.

Original poster

redddssak · 17/04/2024 20:48

CancelledCheque · 17/04/2024 20:42

Thank you OP: I’m quite sure I have caught it recently and I’m in the higher risk window, so it’s a little worrying but I’m trying to focus on the high likelihood that everything should be ok. Anyway, I thought I would pass on the information I found.

well really hope it all goes well for you, pregnancy for me is just one big 9 months of worrying!
can I ask what your symptoms were? and if you had close contact with anyone?

OP posts:

CancelledCheque · 17/04/2024 21:11

Sure: a couple of weeks ago I started feeling flu-ey with shivering, muscle aches, headaches and awful tiredness. I spent much of the next week in bed. I had not much appetite and felt nauseous. I had headaches most days. A few days into my illness, I had a red rash over my arms and legs, with a little on my cheeks. It was really itchy especially at night. Then I developed joint pain in my knees, wrists and elbows. I didn’t twig what it could be until my son got sick as well and came out in a classic bright red rash on his cheeks (with the same rash that I had on his arms/legs/torso).

I contacted the maternity hospital for advice and they told me to get tested. My GP was very helpful and got me a blood test the same day. If it’s positive, I’ll have regular scans every fortnight for a couple of months to monitor the baby for signs of hydrops.

AllThePotatoesAreSinging · 17/04/2024 21:14

CancelledCheque · 17/04/2024 21:11

Sure: a couple of weeks ago I started feeling flu-ey with shivering, muscle aches, headaches and awful tiredness. I spent much of the next week in bed. I had not much appetite and felt nauseous. I had headaches most days. A few days into my illness, I had a red rash over my arms and legs, with a little on my cheeks. It was really itchy especially at night. Then I developed joint pain in my knees, wrists and elbows. I didn’t twig what it could be until my son got sick as well and came out in a classic bright red rash on his cheeks (with the same rash that I had on his arms/legs/torso).

I contacted the maternity hospital for advice and they told me to get tested. My GP was very helpful and got me a blood test the same day. If it’s positive, I’ll have regular scans every fortnight for a couple of months to monitor the baby for signs of hydrops.

That was my penny drop moment too, until my son got red cheeks I thought I had Covid!

Original poster

redddssak · 17/04/2024 21:25

CancelledCheque · 17/04/2024 21:11

Sure: a couple of weeks ago I started feeling flu-ey with shivering, muscle aches, headaches and awful tiredness. I spent much of the next week in bed. I had not much appetite and felt nauseous. I had headaches most days. A few days into my illness, I had a red rash over my arms and legs, with a little on my cheeks. It was really itchy especially at night. Then I developed joint pain in my knees, wrists and elbows. I didn’t twig what it could be until my son got sick as well and came out in a classic bright red rash on his cheeks (with the same rash that I had on his arms/legs/torso).

I contacted the maternity hospital for advice and they told me to get tested. My GP was very helpful and got me a blood test the same day. If it’s positive, I’ll have regular scans every fortnight for a couple of months to monitor the baby for signs of hydrops.

oh wow thanks for sharing that sounds very intense! hope your feeling better now!

OP posts:

CancelledCheque · 17/04/2024 21:33

Thanks: I’m still occasionally itchy, having headaches every day and have no energy, but feeling a lot better. It wiped me out over the Easter holiday and I couldn’t do much parenting as I was in bed so much! My poor son was pretty sick too: he vomited every day for nearly a week; barely ate, fell asleep every afternoon and then came out in a very itchy rash. We have gone through a lot of antihistamines just to get some sleep. But I know plenty of people have it very mildly or don’t even notice symptoms, so we are not typical.

AllThePotatoesAreSinging · 17/04/2024 22:22

CancelledCheque · 17/04/2024 21:33

Thanks: I’m still occasionally itchy, having headaches every day and have no energy, but feeling a lot better. It wiped me out over the Easter holiday and I couldn’t do much parenting as I was in bed so much! My poor son was pretty sick too: he vomited every day for nearly a week; barely ate, fell asleep every afternoon and then came out in a very itchy rash. We have gone through a lot of antihistamines just to get some sleep. But I know plenty of people have it very mildly or don’t even notice symptoms, so we are not typical.

I’m not typical symptom wise either, I’m sorry you’ve got it but I’m grateful for someone else to ask about it. Have you had pins and needles in your arms? It’s the worst part for me, and worse at night. It’s improved over the last 3 weeks but still very disruptive. 😩

sarahsarahsarahsar · 17/04/2024 22:44

Sorry to derail this thread but I have this at the moment and feel in agony, I can't climb stairs or open a jar, my joints hurt too much. Will my mobility come back??

CancelledCheque · 17/04/2024 23:27

AllThePotatoesAreSinging · 17/04/2024 22:22

I’m not typical symptom wise either, I’m sorry you’ve got it but I’m grateful for someone else to ask about it. Have you had pins and needles in your arms? It’s the worst part for me, and worse at night. It’s improved over the last 3 weeks but still very disruptive. 😩

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Show quote history

I’m sorry to hear that. I haven’t had pins and needles. There are options for what’s called neuropathic pain. It’s possible your GP could prescribe you some gabapentin or something similar for short term use if it’s disrupting your sleep? I hope you find something that helps.

CancelledCheque · 17/04/2024 23:32

sarahsarahsarahsar · 17/04/2024 22:44

Sorry to derail this thread but I have this at the moment and feel in agony, I can't climb stairs or open a jar, my joints hurt too much. Will my mobility come back??

I’m so sorry to hear this. My joints were mildly painful and are much better after a couple of weeks, although my knees are still a little sore. The NHS page does say it can take weeks for the joint pain to go. Are you able to take anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen?

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/slapped-cheek-syndrome/

Slapped cheek syndrome

Find out about slapped cheek syndrome (also called fifth disease or parvovirus B19), a viral infection that mainly affects children but can affect people of any age. Read about the symptoms and when to see a GP.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/slapped-cheek-syndrome/

Original poster

redddssak · 18/04/2024 00:27

update, my cheeks are completely normal now??? so weird maybe it is just pregnancy flushes! I think im going to leave it not ring tomorrow anyway I have a midwife app next Monday ill ask then if happens again

OP posts:

AllThePotatoesAreSinging · 18/04/2024 21:17

@redddssak hope it all calms down.

@sarahsarahsarahsar I am exactly 3 weeks today since my symptoms started. My legs are more or less back to normal but my hands and wrists are still bad. I still can’t open a jar or a bottle, but I have a special tool for that, and I can ‘nearly’ open bottles. Can’t carry my 9 month old as I don’t trust my arms yet, plus they hurt after less than a minute. I am massively improved compared to 2 weeks ago though and I’m pretty confident in a few weeks it’ll be a distant memory. I’m definitely seeing the doctor next week though to see what they can do for me in the meantime.

I can’t believe how awful this virus has been. I’ve got a hobby business that involves hand making (think sculpture, sewing, woodwork) and I can’t do any of it.

Hope you improve soon x

sarahsarahsarahsar · 18/04/2024 22:26

@AllThePotatoesAreSinging I'm sorry you're going through this too. I'm glad you're recovering. I'm only a week in and there have been some dark moments wondering if my arms and legs will return to full strength or hurt forever. I have to stay patient. I had no idea this could be so awful.