subject: Understanding Fifths Disease When You See It [print this page] Understanding Fifths Disease When You See It
It usually begins with a symptom that is known as slapped cheek appearance in which the cheeks become extremely flushed and there can be some stomach symptoms associated with it. It usually is something that comes without a fever and is usually gone within just a few days.
One of the biggest problems with Fifth's Disease is that it is highly contagious and because there is no fever associated with it even the health department feels that it is okay for these children to attend school even when presenting with these symptoms, therefore spreading it around. Now if the only issues associated with the disease were those listed above this might be acceptable but Fifth's Disease can present much differently in those who are anemic, infants and toddlers, and adults.
Adults don't usually have the rosy red cheeks that goes with it. They do however have serious pain in the joints that comes from it. The pain will start in one joint and then move on to another. Most people only have to deal with this awful pain for a month or so. It can though stay around for up to 6 months and that is pretty hard to deal with. Adults don't usually have to deal with the stomach issues that kids do with this but the joint pain is much worse.
The babies can have a really hard time with this disease. It easily turns into scarlet fever with infants and toddlers. The reason behind this is because the illness is strep-based. It is a virus and will need to be treated with antibiotics when it does turn into the scarlet fever. It will produce an uncomfortable high fever and almost always has a rash that goes with it. When it gets to this point, there is always isolation suggested for a few days until it passes.
Initially it does not seem that this disease is much of anything to worry about. It is important though to understand that everyone is different and the way that they deal with the issue will vary from person to person. When someone says that you don't need to worry because it is only hand, foot, and mouth disease you need to know that it could turn into something worse for you or your kids and it is better to stay away.
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