Fifth disease is a viral disease that often results in a red rash on the arms, legs, and cheeks. For this reason, it’s also known as “slapped cheek disease.”

For pregnant women or anyone with a weakened immune system, it can be more severe; in most children, it’s fairly common and mild.

causes

Children who are enrolled in school are more likely to contract the fifth disease, parvovirus B19, through saliva and respiratory secretions.

Most frequently found in:

1. late winter
2. spring
3. early summer

However, anyone of any age can contract it at any time.

Our unborn child faces serious risks, including a life-threatening anemia, if WE contract the fifth disease while we are pregnant.

Fifth disease is a common, non-life-threatening illness that affects kids with strong immune systems on a very infrequent basis.

symptoms

Early signs of the fifth disease can resemble flu-like symptoms in severity and are very general.

Symptoms often include:

1. headache
2. fatigue
3. low-grade fever
4. sore throat
5. nausea
6. runny nose
7. stuffy nose

Most young people get a red rash after a few days of these symptoms, which usually starts on the cheeks and is occasionally the first symptom of the illness to be noticed.

In a matter of days, the rash will typically disappear from one area of the body before returning to another.

The rash frequently appears elsewhere besides the cheeks on the:

1. arms
2. legs
3. trunk of the body

Adults typically only experience joint pain, which can last for several weeks, as the primary symptom, while children are more likely to develop a rash.

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT

• • ApisHeat stage of fever: extremely sleepy with great thirst; barely any perspiration; want cool cloths on red cheeks; “slapped” face looks swollen, shiny, and feels stinging & hot (just like a bee sting would look and feel); possibly with sore throat; fear of being alone; possessive of the mother (jealousy); skin rashes that feel hot and dry and are sensitive to touch; maybe accompani

    • Belladonna

      Rapid or fast onset, very red cheeks that radiate heat, a high temperature, dilated pupils, and a throbbing headache are all possible symptoms. The person may also crave lemon or other sour drinks.

    • Chamomilla

      In the fever stage, there are flushes of heat in the head and face, a fiery red rash on the face, burning, cold limbs with hot, sweaty perspiration, and ugly behavior. There is also whining restlessness, a tendency to want many things but reject them, aversion to touch but a desire to be carried, heightened sensitivity to pain, and hot, sweaty perspiration with fever.

    • Rhus toxicodendronPerson may experience pain in their joints, rashes, blisters, and vesicles, with itching that gets worse at night and goes away when heat is applied. Person may also experience general restlessness and difficulty finding comfort.

• Urtica UrensThe itching is frequently worse in the morning, and nettle rash, hives, or urticaria typically worsen after bathing or warmth.