Has Anyone Ever Had a Child or Know of Someone That Has Had Fifth Disease

Both of my kids have had it. My son was around 2 and my daughter around 4. Other than a low grade fever, and a couple of different rashes, they were fine. (First low grade fever, then slapped cheek rash, then lacy rash all over her body for about 2 days). Hope this helped!

I've known many children with it, ranging in age from 6 months to even adults...most adults on have achy joints and a mild fever or no symptoms at all, most children have cold-like symptoms and a fever and then break out in the "slapped cheek" rash characteristic of the disease.

It sounds worse than it is. Just a fever and rash. It is a virus and has to run it's course. The child may be irratable or sleepy from not feeling well. My kids are in daycare and they have had all the viruses and illnesses that you can think of in their first 2.5 years. Then it just gets better, there bodies fight it off. Most of these illnesses with kids are Tylenol, rest and run it's course. Of course if there is a high fever, dehidration, or lingers too long, see your dr immediatly.

Most kids get it but some parents don't even notice it.

Here's a link to more information about it.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/f...

I had it when I was a kid. 5th grade maybe 4th. I don't remember it much but it wan no big deal.

My daughter had it at about 18 months. She just had a fever for about 4 or 5 days (which was why I took her into the doc) and she had the "slapped checks" as they call it which means her checks were really red and looked like they had been slapped. I was also pregnant with my second at the time which can be scary cause it can harm the fetus. Anyways the doc said that most all kids get it it's just that most parents think they are just teething, have a cold or a flu and so they never take them into the doctors so it goes undetected. Which is fine because it goes way on it's own after a week or so. Some kids break out in a small rash on their torso which my daughter did. But the doc said once that happens it is no longer contagious. So he didn't give her anything and she was fine. As for me he just told me that I probably already had it as a kid and would get it which means the fetus would be fine. And he was right. I never got it and baby girl #2 was healthy as ever.

my son had it at 8 or 9 months

it usually comes on after a virus. red cheeks and crankiness
most kids have had it and you may not even have known. They do say to keep kids away from pregnant women in their 1st trimester.

MOst people have immunity to it b/c the had it as a child. SOme OB's will even test your immunity when you are preganant

My son is 2 yrs. old and had fifths disease this past Jan. I was told it was just a virus that followed with a rash. Well, he had cold like symptoms for three days and on the fourth day he had a fever and rash. The rash was all over and took three weeks to completely heal. I was told once he had the rash, he was not contagious and this illness affects school-aged kids. He stays home with me, so I'm still unsure of how he got it. But the twist is one week after his rash broke I caught it. I felt aweful it was similar symptoms to the flu. After a week, I broke out into a rash and mine didn't fade for four weeks. However, I was told that once a person catches it, you can't catch it again. The rash is a result of red blood cells not reproducing, which the virus attacks. The virus can be harmful to a fetus, so stay away from pregnant women.

i had a friend whos kid had it. he was about 10. if I remeber right it has a 7-10 day duration there is nothing they can do for it other than bakingsoda baths. Don't ask me if it is contagious I have no idea

My boys had it when they were 4 and 10. It wasn't too bad. I agree with the others who mentioned that it sounds much worse than it is.

It is contagious (a form of measles, technically) and once they have it once they are immune (like all viruses). However, they should be kept away from pregnant women. If a pregnant woman is not immune to it, it could harm the fetus. Red cheeks is the main symptom of it.

It is one of those things you find out about when your child comes down with it! They will probably look "slapped" and have a fever and be cranky. I think all three of my children had it at some point before age 5 or 6. I think they were younger.

M.

My oldest had it when he was about 2. It wasn't a big deal. He just had cold symptoms and rosy cheeks.

My son had it and I don't remember it being too bad. The red cheeks seemed to be the most prevalent symptom.