Slapped cheek disease in children
goodtoknow says: Slapped cheek syndrome is a viral infection that mainly happens in childhood. The slapped cheek virus causes a dramatic rash on your child's face, which makes them look as if they've just been slapped. Sometimes the rash fades then returns. Slapped cheek syndrome can also spread to the arms and legs. But although it looks severe, slapped cheek syndrome shouldn't make your child feel too ill and usually only lasts a few days. Liquid paracetamol will ease symptoms of slapped cheek disease.
For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of slapped cheek disease from patient.co.uk, read on.
Slapped cheek disease is normally a mild, short illness. However, the rash may appear to be quite dramatic. No treatment is usually needed.
What is slapped cheek disease?
Slapped cheek disease is sometimes called Fifth Disease or Erythema Infectiosum. It is an infection caused by the Parvovirus B19 virus. It most commonly occurs in children aged 4-12 years, but anyone can be affected. It is infectious (can be passed on). The infectious period is for 4-20 days before the rash appears. By the time the rash develops, it is usually no longer infectious.
You normally have slapped cheek disease only once in a lifetime. This is because you make antibodies during the infection which protect you from future infections with this same virus.
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Lorna Watson, 6 months
This site has given me a great deal more knowledge about this virus my 18mnth old has it, i took him to the docs as his temp was'nt going down, it was 40.1 c ,and took ages to come down , at the time of this virus being invectious you dont actually know that you have it, My son does'nt have a rash ( yet) but extreemly red cheeks, and at his worst was very drowsey , Im glad to hear that this illness is only a short one!
Report this commentClare East, 7 months
I have just returned from the doctors and i have been diagnosed with slapped cheek. I am 36 years old and i have felt very unwell with it. Very achy, feeling very cold and shivering to very hot the next minute. The rash has come and gone and come back again. I have been advised that adults come off worse with this and to drink lots of water and rest well. I also had stomach ache for the first few days and backache now i have a sore throat. I hope this helps anyone reading this. Thanks for the helpful website.
Report this commentsharon brown, 8 months
my nine year old son has just got over this slapped cheek virus, he was very sick nine days before the cheeks went bright red. this was when he was incubating the virus. he has been off school for a week with body aches fever, red cheeks, sore throat glands up in his neck feeling very ill, some people get it mildly some get it bad like my son. He is getting better now at last a week after the rash showed.
Report this commentpamela nash, 8 months
I am an adult and having read the above I am sure that this is what I have been suffering for the past 8 days.My Dr though I had a post viral illness but the rash is typical of slap cheek symdrome though I do feel ill with it. Infact I am pretty well washed out and have aching back and joints as well. perhaps adults suffer a more severe form if the illness or maybe I am just going through my second childhood!!!
Report this commentnicola, 10 months
hi slapcheek is very very itchy im sitting here with it on my face right now, it is contagious to pregnant woman... i thought i id look to find more out about it very helpful into btw :D
Report this commentjolene carter, 12 months
my 3 year old son caught it from nursery, and he's been quite poorly for about 6 days with a sore throat and a stinking cold, We've been giving paracetamol and keeping him cool. I'd never heard of it before, but know i realise that it is very common
Report this commentCheryl, about 1 year
I have only just come across this web site and all of the symptoms that is on here sounds exactly what my son has got, we have been to two doctors who have said that this is onlyviral and have not given it any name at all, at least now my mind has been put to ease slightly, and to know that I am not alone with this either.
Report this commentaveril, about 1 year
my daughter as had it for a week now, and is still coverd in a rash.
Report this commentHELEN, about 1 year
I too had never heard of slapped cheek. My 4 year old daughter - youngest of 5 children, developed bright red cheeks which we thought was due to something she'd eaten. it wasn't until she went to nursery the following day that the staff told me what she had. That same day she became quite poorly but thanks to your web site, I knew how to treat her instead of using up our GPs time.
Report this commentdeborah greaves, about 1 year
I had never heard of slap cheek before until my 3 year old daughter had it. I found the information on this site very helpful and how to treat the infection. It has givin me a better idea of how the virus is passed on and what symptoms it has.
Report this commentJane Baker, about 1 year
I am just recovering from Slap Cheek - I'm 41 - amd I have been quite poorly. My 4 children have all had slap cheek when they were small however, I did not. My joints are very stiff and sore and so are my cheeks nearly 2 weeks after being diagnosed. But thanks to this web site at least I kow I won't get it again. thank you
Report this commentannabella smith, over 2 years
Yes I did as I only found out about this virus yesterday and it did not sound very nice at all so your article has at least given me a better idea of the disease. thank you
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sara, 6 months
Im 15 and i developd a rash around a week ago now and i have been very ill but i am feeling much better now its just my throat is hurting.But my rash seems to be getting worse and spreading quite fast and getting very itchy.has this happend to any one else?as it is worrying me that it is not getting better by now.
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