I just wanted to post some recent information on Parvovirus - also known as ‘Slapped Cheek’ and ‘Fifths Disease’
I was looking for information about it but couldn’t find anything helpful online that had been posted recently. Without wanting to scare anybody, there seems to be a huge rise in cases - it’s a common childhood virus which, in children, comes out as a temperature or cold or feeling under the weather, followed by a bright red or pink rash on cheeks/face. It is really dangerous for pregnant women to contract it between 9 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. I read that about 50% of the population are already immune (how does anyone know this, given there is no testing done?!)
I caught, what I thought was flu at about 12 weeks pregnant. It started with shivers and fever and whole body aches. It moved on with headaches and aching wrists and joints. I also vomited for a whole day, but wondered if this was my morning sickness. I then felt very post-viral for a few weeks. Only then did I wake up one morning with a bright red face (the rash indicates the end of being infectious) which I had for a few days / it was hot and felt like I had been sunburnt.
I had a chance conversation with my sister who said her daughters had it recently and that their school had sent out a letter saying there was an insurgence of cases.
I called my midwife who said I needed to find out if I had immunity or had a recent infection for Parvovirus B19. She took it very seriously - the GP had barely heard of it and didn’t know how to spell it.
If you have any of these symptoms, even without the rash, please tell your midwife or ask your GP.
It turned out that it had been Parvovirus and I was referred to Fetal medicine to be monitored.
I went for there for a scan on Tuesday - I was 16 weeks pregnant - to find that the baby had died from contracting Parvovirus. To have seen a healthy and active baby on my scan at 12 and 13 weeks and to have a low risk Harmony test and perfect nuchal scans, to being told there was no heartbeat and fluid all over the baby has been beyond devastating. I believe the baby can suffer from severe anaemia and Fetal hydrops amongst other things.
The most concerning thing was that the consultant said they usually see 1 case a year and they had seen 4 cases in the past week.
I don’t want to scare people but everywhere I read (particularly on Mumsnet) that it was fine and nothing to worry about and that nearly everyone has immunity. If we are experiencing an endemic then I think people need to be aware and do what they can to protect pregnant women. If there is an outbreak of chickenpox, nurseries and schools and GPs circulate information immediately. I also think that women should be tested for immunity in their booking in bloods so at least if they aren’t immune they can take precautions. I am aware that after 18 weeks in utero there are things they can do if the baby is unwell but I suppose the more cases there are, the more likely there will be some tragic outcomes. I just want to raise some awareness because if it saves one babies life, it’s worth it.