Fifths Disease And Pregnancy
Can you explain how fifths disease and pregnancy are related?
Fifth disease or “slapped cheek disease” is a common illness that afflicts young children and teenagers with a red rash. It typically starts on the face and works its way down to the body, arms, and legs. Aside from the overall appearance the illness causes, it is generally considered to be quite harmless and many children recover from it easily.
The illness usually starts with symptoms such as a low fever and a runny nose and as the symptoms disappear, the rash generally appears. Fifth disease is airborne and can be contracted by touching an object that someone infected with the illness has already touched, or whenever they sneeze or cough on you.
Fifth Disease And Pregnant Women
While fifth disease is most common with younger children, it can still affect adults as well. Since this illness can stop the production of red blood cells, it can cause complications for an unborn child.
Since almost half of all adults in the United States have already been exposed to the illness, many people are immune to contracting fifth disease. However, those women who have not been exposed to the illness are susceptible to contracting it while they are pregnant.
If you do contract fifth disease while you are pregnant, the chances of it being passed through the placenta to your baby, are extremely unlikely. Even in the rare cases that the illness is passed along to your unborn baby, it usually does not cause any complications. In the cases when an expectant mother contracts fifth disease after the midpoint of her pregnancy, it will usually have little effect on the unborn baby.
However, in some instances, the illness can cause heart complications for the baby and even lead to a miscarriage or a stillborn baby. In general, expectant mothers who contract the illness before the 20th week of pregnancy, usually end up experiencing the most problems.
How Do I Know If I Have Fifth Disease?
The symptoms can really vary with this illness, and many people who are exposed to it may not get the “slapped cheeks look”. It is difficult to tell who has been exposed to this illness, and if they are contagious. This is because by the time the rash actually occurs, most people are no longer contagious any longer.
If you contract fifth disease, you will most likely start to feel achy in your hands, wrists and knees. You may also experience fatigue,a headache and a low fever as well as a runny nose. Keep in mind that the rash will not be nearly as bad in adults, as it appears on children.
If you fear that you have contracted fifth disease, call your doctor immediately, so that you can get tested. You will have to take a blood test to determine whether or not you have been infected. If you do in fact have the illness, your doctor will most likely schedule a round of ultrasounds to help monitor your baby, and ensure that there are no complications.
How Can I Avoid Getting Fifth Disease?
To avoid getting infected, you should use the same basic common sense as you would to avoid getting the flu or common cold. Try to avoid being around people who are sick, especially those who are coughing or sneezing. Avoid sharing drinking glasses and eating utensils with others, and most importantly always wash your hands extremely well with warm water and antibacterial soap, especially when you are about to eat or touch your mouth.
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