The CDC has recently released a warning regarding the symptoms that physicians should look for before having slapped cheek syndrome. Remembered also by the name parvovirus B9 and Fifth disease, this infection commonly affects children in the age range between 5 and 9 years.
There has been a rising number of infected individuals suffering the relatively mild ‘slapped cheek syndrome, ch chr:- more officially known as parvovirus B9 or Fifth disease whose symptoms include red rashes on the infected’s cheeks. In the report of NBC News, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerted the doctors of the possibility of the condition and asked them to look for symptoms of the same.
According to the CDC, most of these infections are evident in children within five to nine years of age. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control also confirmed that parvovirus cases have also been rising unusually in different parts of Europe.
Pregnant women and people with sickle cell disease who have never been exposed are also susceptible to getting seriously sick, the CDC stated. Abby Parks began experiencing flu-like symptoms around the end of April and, a week later, joint pain and rashes, as NBC News reported. Parks was approximately 18 weeks pregnant and had been nauseous, vomiting, and had a fever for days before being admitted and a coronavirus test and a strep throat test were negative. When her school nurse saw the students with ‘rosy, red cheeks,’ she thought that Parks had the same problem.
What is Parvovirus B19?
Parvovirus B 19 is an easily transmissible disease with high mortality rates, affecting mainly children ages 5 to 9 years. It is popularly referred to as ‘slapped cheek syndrome’ because individuals affected by it develop a red rash on their cheeks. The name ‘Fifth disease’ originated from the disease’s original categorization as the fifth of the erythema infection type rash diseases of childhood.
Parvovirus B19 is generally benign in children but is dangerous for pregnant women, patients with anemia, and immunocompromised patients.
Symptoms of Parvovirus B19
There are several symptoms of parvovirus B19, and they differ with the age of the infected person, and general health status. Although most of the time, the infection does not even manifest and goes undiagnosed, there is notable distress and further development of complications in others.
Symptoms in Children:
- Fever: Fever can be one of the early signs of the illness; it is a mild to moderate one in children.
- Upset Stomach: Headache and gastrointestinal symptoms, for example, nausea and stomach pain, are usual symptoms.
- Headache: Some of the symptoms children give may be mild headaches to severe ones depending on the flu’s intensity.
- Runny Nose: And just as in the flu, rhinitis is recurrent.
- Distinctive Facial Rash: a bright red rash in the form of a slap mark can appear on both cheeks 2-4 days after the onset of the disease’s manifestations. This rash may extend to the arms, trunk, thighs, and buttocks in their various degrees of severity.
Symptoms in Adults
Parvovirus B19 infection in adults is not associated with facial rash which is the hallmark feature of the disease. They only suffer from joint pains and aches that may last for days or could be even prolonged to weeks.
Complications of Parvovirus B19
Parvovirus B19 infections are mild in most cases, but severe outcomes may be experienced in people with other conditions.
Complications in Individuals with Anaemia: In those with anemia, parvovirus B19 is toxic to the bone marrow causing cessation of RBC production, especially in sickle cell anemia. This may lead to a sickle cell crisis a dangerous and often agonizing condition.
Complications During Pregnancy: A pregnant woman who gets infected with parvovirus B19 is predisposed to passing on the virus causing complications to the fetus. Among the most severe is fetal anemia a situation where the blood appearing in the fetus contains extremely little red blood cells. This might call for in-utero blood transfusion as was in the case of Abby Parks a pregnant woman who developed the virus and health complications.
Complications in Immunocompromised Individuals: Immunocompromised persons which means patients with HIV, cancer patients on chemotherapy, and those receiving organ transplants who must take immunosuppressive drugs are more likely to develop severe anemia after parvovirus B19 infection. This enables the virus to cripple their capacity to supply the body with adequate red blood cells, with fairly severe consequences.
The CDC Proposed Call to Action
With the incidences of parvovirus B19 infection on the rise in the United States, the CDC has called on physicians to recognize the early symptoms of the infection in patients that belong to vulnerable groups. The agency’s alert points to the key message of early recognition and management to avert serious adverse events.
While the CDC follows the situation information about the symptoms and potential threat of parvovirus B19 should be provided for parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. The infection when identified in its early stage can be controlled in a bid to reduce its likely effects on those at high risk.
‘Slapped cheek syndrome’ is not usually dangerous in children, its consequences in some groups of people make it important to pay attention to the disease and seek medical help. Thus, the CDC’s alert for cases is also timely to draw more attention and vigilance in controlling this highly contagious viral infection.