Fifth Disease anyone?

[NikiM20]

DD 6 was diagnosed with this today....poor baby her face is all red and blotchy and she keeps saying it itches. Doc said all we could do is put caladryl on it. anyone have any secrets for helping her feel better?

 

[krismom]

Aww- poor thing. itchy is awful! My kids never had Fifths disease, but one of my students did when I was teaching. Basically, it's not really bad, just uncomfortable. I knoe it can be very harmful to pregnant mothers though (the baby actually). So, beware! Good luck and 'hope he feels better!

 

[Soupermom]

I can share my story, hope it helps. DD and I came down with Fifth's Disease in June several years ago. She was about 7, I was a little older. She had a rash and maybe a fever for 1 day, then it went away. I, on the other hand, had a SEVERE RASH and swelling in all of my joints. MY doctor is the one who finally figured out what I had, then we knew what she (had) had. My swelling/pain lasted FOR WEEKS and I had to be put on predisone and arthiritis medicine; also, it adults this is called a Parvo Virus (no, not like dogs get...that was my first question, too! ). It effects women (adults) much more severely than men. I don't know why.

I also had a friend whose 3 kids came down with 5th's. Each one had a different level of severity. Since your DD is so little, I'm guessing benedryl is out, but if not--that might help. I think it usually goes away pretty quickly in kids.

My advice to you is to be careful! This could really cause you some trouble if you were to come down with it. It can also be very harmful to pregnant women. Again, I can't explain why, but I've been told this many times.

Sorry this is such a bummer of a post. I just wouldn't want any other Dmommy to go through what I did if it can be avoided. I hope your little one feels better very soon!

Good luck!

 

[clori]

My dd had fifth disease 2 summers ago when she was 4. At that point I had a newborn (6 weeks old) and was visiting my elderly parents. At first dd has a red splotch on her face that I didn't think much of but then it got worse. I took dd to a local walk in clinic since we weren't near the peds and the dr walked in and said fifth disease. He recommended calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream/ointment, oatmeal baths, liquid benadryl at nighttime. It probably took 3 weeks for the rash to completely go away. The rash gets a webby appearance that makes sense once you see it. Dd did have a slight fever for a day or two. The dr did say that there may be joint pain but dd never mentioned that and it is more common in adults. Fortunately noone else around us got it. Except for the benadryl I (and grandma) applied lotions etc whenever dd started scratching again. DD absolutely refused to get into the bathtub with the aveeno oatmeal bath so I can't say how helpful it was.

 

[kc10family]

corn starch for the itching

you can eat it and it wont hurt you (unless you eat the entire box)

I use corn starch on anything and everything that turns red on my DD's infact I never used baby powder, only corn starch. Take a little container and spoon out some SC then use a makeup pad (about $1.00 for 80 of them at Walmart) dab the pad in the SC like a powder puff and dab on the skin.

I do hope things go well for your DD and that this passes very fast. I will keep your family in my prayers for a fast recovery.

 

[bartleby1]

My DD had it last year (she was 5). I got it at the same time. Like another person posted, it is very dangerous for pregnant women if they have never had it before so if your DD has been around anyone who is pregnant be sure to warn them asap.

My DD didn't complain of itching or any problems from it. She just had the rash. I, on the other hand, had joint pain so severe that I could barely get up off the floor by myself. The joint pain lasted for around 3 months. For some reason it affects children and adults very differently. I never did get a rash from it like DD did. So if you start feeling achy, you have probably caught it.

I'm sure your DD will be feeling better soon. It doesn't usually last very long in children.

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

my DD had it at 18 months, hers didnt itch but it was quite scary nonetheless.My pediatrician had me giving her oatmeal baths and I used a natural cream made my aveeno ( I just cant remember what is called now,but they use it for eczema too).Hers was completely gone within 3 weeks. Hope your baby feels better soon!

 

[Tinkerbellmom33]

Two of my children had it a few years ago, it lasted a week maybe? niether one complained or itched. I never got it, Thank God after reading these posts. It is bad for pregnant women though. Stay away if you know anyone who is. Try Aveeno oatmeal lotion, that works great on itchy skin. Hope Dd goes through it easily.

 

[Angelgirl13202]

I have a quetion after reading this post
you say the rash is on the face yall adults who said they had it. did you get the rash anywhere else this sounds like the rash I have had on my legs for months. (fifths disease went through the day care I worked at last summer when my legs got the red rash I didnt worry about getting it becasue I was told it was only kids who get it) but it sounds like me the rash my joints hurting they way they do I just figured I had been sleeping funny every night.

 

[FayeW]

I can share my story, hope it helps. DD and I came down with Fifth's Disease in June several years ago. She was about 7, I was a little older. She had a rash and maybe a fever for 1 day, then it went away. I, on the other hand, had a SEVERE RASH and swelling in all of my joints. MY doctor is the one who finally figured out what I had, then we knew what she (had) had. My swelling/pain lasted FOR WEEKS and I had to be put on predisone and arthiritis medicine; also, it adults this is called a Parvo Virus (no, not like dogs get...that was my first question, too! ). It effects women (adults) much more severely than men. I don't know why.

I also had a friend whose 3 kids came down with 5th's. Each one had a different level of severity. Since your DD is so little, I'm guessing benedryl is out, but if not--that might help. I think it usually goes away pretty quickly in kids.

My advice to you is to be careful! This could really cause you some trouble if you were to come down with it. It can also be very harmful to pregnant women. Again, I can't explain why, but I've been told this many times.

Sorry this is such a bummer of a post. I just wouldn't want any other Dmommy to go through what I did if it can be avoided. I hope your little one feels better very soon!

Good luck!

Your story sounds just like mine, except I had if first, and then my DD came down with it a week or two later. I started with a very high fever, and then my joints swelled (couldn't get my rings on OR my shoes!). Dr. didn't know what it was, but when the school called a couple of weeks later that DD had it, it made sense. I was so itchy for a day or so that I thought I would go insane!

 

[The Edgington's]

I got fifth disease right after my DS4 was born, they thought maybe in the hospital who knows. I also had lots of problems with my joints but it lasted several months. I ended up at a rheumatologist who took my off prednisone and on vioxx and then ultracet. Most of my joint pain is gone now and I am off all prescription meds but still take tylenol and naproxin once in a while.

 

[pigget74]

Been there and had that. It went around like wildfire at our school about 4 years ago. There is nothing you can really do but wait it out--adults can get this and present different symptoms than the kids. I had it and it was awful. I had the redness, but a lot of other symptoms as well. My son had it for about 2 weeks, also had strep during it, and a spider bite (did not realize it was a spider bite because if the lacy rash form the Fifths and Strep combined). good luck.

 

[Soupermom]

Angelgirl...my rash was mostly on my legs. A little blotchy in other areas, but my legs were the worst. This is what finally made me go to the dr. after a week of pain in my neck, knees and feet...Oh! My feet hurt SO much. The rash only lasted a day or two with minimal itching, but the pain was terrible, especially at night. I would wake up at night because the pain in my feet and knees was SO bad. I had to do months of Vioxx and maybe a week of steroids, I think. I wish the OP well and hope you don't catch it!