I'd welcome some reassurance

[KIS]

I remember reading about some mothers freaking out because their child/ren were getting sick as the day approached to launch their trip.

Well, the trips a month away and my daughter's pre-school comes down with an epidemic of Fifth's Disease. While it's a mild disease, except if you're a fetus and your mother pregnant with you doesn't already have the immunity to this childhood disease. So mild, in fact, that when I mentioned it to the medical staff at state psychiatric center where I work (I wanted to know under what circumstances not to report to work given this disease), they told me not to worry about it, that it really only infected children and that most of us got it as children and did not even know we had it.

I've been weathering out my husband's two month long bout of ear infections and even my daughter's two punch of stomach virus followed by an ear infection herself (and with a history of wicked, persistent ear infections), but to hear that one kid had this Fifth disease -- after her bout of strep throat (the Strep only added to the hysteria), I think I'm finally troubled.

The Fifth's disease can incubate 6 - 28 days, if I got that right online, and while people are not infectious once the rash appears(and sometimes, the rash does not appear), the prior symptoms are virtually like a cold, with a low-grade fever. That would mean, given my husband's and daughter's symptoms and everyone else's, we'd all have to stay home every time we had colds.

So far, only two children have had this disease. One got the rash three weeks ago and the other only two days ago, but she had not been at school for a little over a week given her strep throat.

I'm going bonkers.

I've been planning this WDW trip. It's our first -- the first for my husband, daughter and me. I even called our doctor's office and even there, the suggestion was to go ahead, even if we suspect our 5 year old has the disease.

What would you do? If she's going to get it, I wish she'd get it now so there's a chance she'd be over the contagious phase by then.

(This is crazy)

KIS

 

[Traveliz]

Fifths disease is common in children and is mild...and really there is nothing you can do about any of this. Your place of work has told you not to worry, your child's doctor's office has said not to worry... so that is you answer right there.

Really truly its the things you don't worry about that get you...not to give you more worries; but you can't anticipate trouble. Don't borrow it. Go along with your planning and try not to think about. In fact just don't think about it...like you said every cold would have people home.

I also suggest you avoid reading threads that might increase your worry.

Liz

 

[CarrieAP]

Yes, it is a mild disease, so not worth any worry. With kids it is best to plan for the worse, but hope for the best. We don't rent a car so I am anal about packing OTC medications for every condition yet though we have gone to WDW many times I have not once cracked open a bottle.

 

[sarahsmom73]

We had an outbreak at the school where I teach a few years ago. It didn't really seem to have a big effect on the kids... I got it and was very achy. But the kids acted pretty normally.

I understand about all the sickness.. DH has had a cold for a month and all 3 of us have ahd the stomach virus.. I lost 7lbs... I am just crossiing my fingers that with some pixie dust we are on the way up! Sending you some pixie dust too!

 

[Vanryan]

Put your mind at ease! School's have to notify parents about 5th's disease because of the birth defect complication. Unless your pregnant it really won't matter. Most kids don't even know it when they have it. Your little one might even be immune already.


Sarahsmom, you need to fatten up with a kitchen sink from Beaches and Cream!

 

[zurgswife]

While it is a mild disease for children...it is not only pregnant women that it can be dangerous for....

My old boss a Kindergaten and preschool teacher for some 20 odd years came down with the disease 5 years ago. She had been exposed many many times over those 20 years and it wasn't until 5 years ago that she contracted it. She was in her early 50's and it put her practically in bed for 6 months....and she still suffers from problems that the disease intensified....

Any how....you can never tell who will get or when so, unless your family shows symptoms prior to leaving...I'd go ahead with my WDW trip...

 

[zurgswife]

Sorry after reading my post...I guess it wasn't very reassuring...but my point was you never know who is going to get it....and if you as an adult think you might have symptoms please go get your blood checked because it can be dangerous for adults.

 

[suslynn]

My older daughter had it several years ago-a slight rash on her face-and the doctor told us not to worry about it. She got over it and didn't even miss school. I am a transplant patient with a repressed immune system and it did not affect me in the least, so I really would not worry about it! Just have fun!

 

[KIS]

Thanks all! Can you believe there's only been possibly one other case at the school that's been diagnosed? The mother of the second case is not too sure her daughter has/had it. She and the doctor thought it was possibly scarlet fever, believe it or not!

Hasn't everyone had some rash or mysterious disease as a kid or adult that comes and goes?

I'm feeling a little more settled.

What set me off was our babysitter for some mornings a week does have two daughter-in-laws who are pregnant and I felt obliged to tell her since she sees them regularly. She happens to have a deformity from birth and it sparked her concern imagining that perhaps her mother had been exposed and so on. She really, really wanted to do all she could to prevent exposure for her grandchildren in the making. I think I oversympathized with her terror and intensity. She's such a love.

Meanwhile, my family does give each other viruses and thank god we suffer from normal aches and pains. I am hoping for the best -- not too sure how to prepare for the worst --- just bring some decongestant and nasal spray and tylenol, I guess.....

I'm glad that people care enough to respond. I feel much better.

WDW will probably "cure" my family of our upper respiratory infection

KIS

 

[Atotty]

In adults, 5th disease can turn into Human Parvo B-19.....and no, it is **not** the same disease as the Parvo dogs get. LOL Be careful and if you start showing symptoms, please go and get a blood test for it.

Most times human Parvo B-19 is no big deal...many people have had it and never even knew it. However, as one poster said, you can get it and it will last for months and a very few people have repeated flare ups for years.

I have it and have had it since the first week of July last year. After going through **numerous** medical tests, I was finally tested and diagnosed with this 3 weeks ago.

It can be very debilitating and frustrating because docs usually do not test for this since it is rare and the symptoms mimic many other diseases. Fever, muscle pain, intense joint pain, horrible fatigue, headaches, and my fav...mental confusion (gives me an excuse for all my typos <g>). When you get a bad flare up, it hurts to move. I was in bed for a week in January because my back hurt so badly I couldn't get up.

Sorry this is so long. Just wanted to save you the frustration I've gone through if you start having symptoms.

 

[kadaten]

My DD has Fifth Disease once but we didn't know it and neither did she...that's how mild it was!! She went with me to DS's well-baby check and the doc says "she has fifth disease, let me get you a hand-out on it." Huh? I'd never heard of it (and I taught preschool for 6.5 years so I've normally heard of or had everything....) It's completely mild...nothing to get worked up over. Like I said, none of us knew she was sick....I just thought she was flushed because it was warm outside

Go and have a good trip!!

 

[pigget74]

Two years ago my sons school and my school had an epidemic of this. There was not one class k-3 that was not affected. Most of the classes had anywhere from 1-8 people in the class having it. He had a lacy rash on his torso, arms, legs, and his face was red--slapped face look--- he was very itchy, but also came down with strep about 5 days into it. It took him 3 weeks to truely get over this. I also came down with this and even though it is mainlya child's disease--us adults can get it to. I woke up one night in severe pain in my leg and arm bones. Thought I was coming down with the flu. My best friend was getting married that weekend and my daughter was in the wedding. I was in soooo much pain--I did occasionaly have a red face, but then it turned into hives. The doctors ran many test and sent me to many specialist---I am now fine, but it took my about three months to get over it. That being said--my daughter nor husband came down with this. The school had the health department tell them that nothing could be done and to let it run its course.

 

[MamaTink]

My daughter had it, too, with no problems. Just to be on the safe side, why don't you simply try to avoid standing next topregnant women at DW.

 

[KIS]

There have been no other posts and my daughter is coughing, but I think it's the virus that my husband, daughter and I keep passing around.

KIS

 

[KIS]

Now it's just her second bout of an ear infection. We all have these cough/cold in the head type symptoms that we seem to share. The weather in NY has just been so haywire -- warm, cold, snow in March, rain in March... My daughter's on a second bout of antibiotics. She'll be off of them on 4/15. We travel on 4/23. Usually, she gets the infection again in 5 -10 days after finisihing the antibiotic. So, with our trip scheduled for 4/24, I'm not too pleased. I think I'll have her visit the doctor on 4/22 -- just to me on the safe side. I don't think our doctor's the type to give a Rx for antiobiotics -- just in case the symptoms develop down there. That's why I'd go then, to have her look at the ears and see if the fluid's subsided as well as the infection and discuss game plans for flying given the recent problems as well as contigency plans.

What a disappointment that we're still struggling as a family against this slow moving virus that just won't quit. My husband started this by getting sick in EARLY FEBRUARY, for heaven's sake!

KIS