What is the treatment for slapped cheek syndrome in children?
Your child does not usually need any treatment. If they have a headache, temperature, or aches and pains then paracetamol or ibuprofen will help.
Are there any complications from slapped cheek disease?
Usually not. Rarely, the aching joint symptoms last for some time after the other symptoms have gone. The only times the illness may become more serious are:
- In children with some types of hereditary anaemia such as sickle cell disease, beta-thalassaemia and hereditary spherocytosis. This virus can cause these types of anaemia to become suddenly much worse.
- In pregnant women. Most pregnant women are immune to this virus, or will not be seriously affected if they become infected by it. However, like some other viruses, the virus that causes slapped cheek disease can sometimes harm an unborn child. Miscarriage is more common in women who are infected with this virus before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, if you are pregnant, keep away from people who have slapped cheek disease.
By Lucie Tobin
3 months
Sarah mcharrie
My 7 year old daughter has had very painful and aching joints for the last week, but it is 7-9 days later that her cheeks have become bright red. Looking back she has been quite poorly, but since the red cheeks have appeared she has become her usual bubbly self! There has been a note from school reporting a few cases.Sarah
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