Fifth Disease....

[jsbowl16]

We just returned from 10 days at Disney and had a great time but our daughter started showing signs of Fifth Disease on our last day and now my wife and I have it as well. If you have never had it, it starts with flu like symptoms including fever, chills, sore throat, runny nose, sweating and then turns into itchy spots on your face, feet and hands. It is a virus and there isn't much that doctors can do for it. It supposedly last a week or two with the itchy spots but we have only had it a few days so we cant say for sure.

We stayed in Disney the entire time we were there and since we were there nine days before our daughter got it, I am assuming we got it from someone at Disney. I am not sure how widespread it would be but I just wanted to warn everyone to wash your hands often and don't share drinks.

It is horrible for kids to have this but it is even worse for adults. Hopefully this will keep someone from getting it and save a vacation or two.

 

[conniehar90]

Sorry to hear that news! I remember my 18 year old got that when he was about 2. It was horrible for him - he couldn't eat anything. Seems like whenever we visit during the spring, we always pick up something - have never gotten sick during a summer visit. Thanks for the reminder and I surely hope you all feel better soon!!!!

 

[jsbowl16]

Thanks. Our throats and even our tongues hurt so any food that has a rough texture or too acidic is very hard to eat right now.

 

[ruthies12]

Ugh, so sorry to hear that! Hope you guys feel better soon!

 

[GagesMama]

My son had this last year. The doctor told us the incubation period for it is like 2 weeks so you've already been exposed (and exposed others) before even knowing it. The good thing is that it's no longer contagious once the rash appears.
I hope you guys all recover quickly.

 

[ForeverAlice]

Feel better soon!

 

[mom2rtk]

My son had it as a small child. Shaved ice got him through it.

Wishes for a speedy recovery!

 

[anniemae]

That stinks! Not much you can do, just has to run it's course I think. When at Disney, there are soooooooooo many germs. People from all over bringing germs, I get a little freaked out. Think of all the surfaces you touch on rides etc. I bought a hand sanitizer that supposedly lasts for 24 hours and/or 10 hand washes. We use it at Disney. We also make a point to wash hands frequently. You do what you can. Hope you all feel better soon. Maybe some ice cream will help!

 

[minnie mum]

Fifth disease is much more common than some would think. After DGS came down with it ( it ran thru his daycare) I read that up to half of all adults tested for it showed previous exposure. It occurs all over the world, has a long incubation period, and is easily spread through respiratory or oral secretions (both airborne and contact transmission). So its quite possible someone came in contact with it at WDW. It's also quite possible you were incubating it before you even arrived. Hope you are all on the mend.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

That stinks. DD had it when she was little - it didn't bother her much at all. We wouldn't have noticed if it hadn't been for the lace rash. I didn't know about the adult symptoms at the time through. About 4 months later, I was so tired of achy muscles that I started Googling my symptoms, only to discover that I was likely still dealing with the adult version of 5ths. While I wasn't miserable, it did go on a long time.

 

[mkla2015]

Oh no Hope you feel better soon! I had it when I was younger and remember it being pretty rough! We wash hands constantly while at Disney but with so many people and so many germs- you just never know what you'll catch. On our last trip, we all caught a really bad cold- came home with sore throats and ear infections.

 

[larryz]

Well, with any luck, you've all already had First through Fourth Disease! Hope you're all feeling better soon.

 

[LaurenT]

Ugh! Whenever I see people playing with the honey walls in the Pooh line, I want to remind them all to wash their hands!

 

[supersnoop]

Ugh! Whenever I see people playing with the honey walls in the Pooh line, I want to remind them all to wash their hands!

Every time I go through that queue, I remember to pull out the hand sanitizer.

 

[anniemae]

Every time I go through that queue, I remember to pull out the hand sanitizer.

Me too!!! OMG I hate that queue!!!

 

[Fizban]

We just returned from 10 days at Disney and had a great time but our daughter started showing signs of Fifth Disease on our last day and now my wife and I have it as well. If you have never had it, it starts with flu like symptoms including fever, chills, sore throat, runny nose, sweating and then turns into itchy spots on your face, feet and hands. It is a virus and there isn't much that doctors can do for it. It supposedly last a week or two with the itchy spots but we have only had it a few days so we cant say for sure.

We stayed in Disney the entire time we were there and since we were there nine days before our daughter got it, I am assuming we got it from someone at Disney. I am not sure how widespread it would be but I just wanted to warn everyone to wash your hands often and don't share drinks.

It is horrible for kids to have this but it is even worse for adults. Hopefully this will keep someone from getting it and save a vacation or two.

Heads up as well. My daughter had it when young. Another symptom is cheeks that look like they have just been slapped. That's the alternate name for the disease, slapped cheek disease.

 

[AngiTN]

Ugh! Whenever I see people playing with the honey walls in the Pooh line, I want to remind them all to wash their hands!

Every time I go through that queue, I remember to pull out the hand sanitizer.

Me too!!! OMG I hate that queue!!!

How is it any more dirty than all other surfaces at Disney?

 

[bbjunkie]

It is a very, very common virus. Your severe symptoms are unusual. Most people have had it, likely when they were schoo-aged, and most people never show any symptoms. It can be worse for adults than kids, but again, most people have had it before they are adults. If fact, most kindergartens will have it run through a classroom. Only one or two kids will ever show symptoms, but the whole class will have been exposed and likely have the virus by the time the rash appears. The only people it can really be a danger for are pregnant women that have not had the virus. With no titer present, the risk of spontaneous miscarriage increases. It is really nothing to be concerned about, and using hand-sanitizer won't prevent it's spread.

 

[LaurenT]

How is it any more dirty than all other surfaces at Disney?

I'm not sure it is ... But it's not just a passing touch. You can watch the little kids use the palm of their hands to wipe their noses and then use that same hand to smear every inch of the honey wall that they can reach in hopes of uncovering the hidden characters. It's just a huge Petri dish.

 

[supersnoop]

How is it any more dirty than all other surfaces at Disney?

It's not. It's just a great reminder.