Dear all,
The title of my message gives, I believe, all the different names that belong
to Erythema Infectiosum which was given  its more common name Fifth Disease
somewhere between 1850 & 1880 when German physicians set about identifying the
many rashes that children get and numbering them.  First disease was scarlet
fever,  Second was measles, Third was rubella and Sixth was Roseola infantum.
Fourth disease was probably a mistake, being given the name Duke's disease
after a doctor who identified it, but it is now believed that it was most
probably rubella.

Parvovirus B19 which is responsible for Slapped Cheek Disease was discovered
in 1975 during screening of healthy blood donors for hepatitis B.

Those with slapped cheek disease often have the raw looking cheeks and a rash
with a lacy pattern over the legs.  Often other parts of the body, even palms
of hand can have this lacy rash.  The skin feels tender and fiery.  The rash
is more pronounced morning and evening and when you get hot.  Parvovirus can
cross the placenta and cause a threat to the foetus.  Infections in adults may
be accompanied by acute arthritis.  Sickle cell disease sufferers can have
crisis of their condition with catching Pv19.  If infection reaches a school
up to 60% of children may be affected, some without apparent symptoms.  In UK
the disease has a peak in the first half of the year often in April and May
and some years there is a much bigger peak that others.
1993 was such a year when my two boys caught this.  You are infectious, I
think, for some time before external symptoms but I think it would be wise to
keep a patient at home away from more vulnerable members of the community
whose systems cannot cope with the attacking virus.  Regards, Helen M.
Woodman, NCT Brf Counsellor UK