This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Erythema infectiosum

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Parvovirus B19 virus, discovered accidentally in 1975, is a single-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Parvoviridae family of viruses (1) and it is identified as one of the smallest viruses to infect the mammalian cell (2).

Parvoviruses are species specific and humans are exclusively affected by the type B19 (1).

Transmission of the disease can occur via:

  • respiratory route
  • hand-to-mouth contact
  • blood products
  • vertically from the mother to the fetus (3)

Replication of the virus occurs in rapidly dividing erythroid progenitor cells although other target cells have also been identified e.g – myocardial tissue (1).

The most typical manifestations of parvovirus B19 infection are

  • erythema infectiosum (ie, fifth disease)
  • transient aplastic crisis
  • chronic red cell aplasia
  • arthropathy
  • nonimmune hydrops fetalis (3)

Fifth disease is due to infection with human erythrovirus (formerly parvovirus) type B19, and tends to occur in school-aged children, sometimes occurring in epidemics. As the alternative name indicates, the maculopapular rash associated with this disease often resembles slap marks on the cheeks.

One episode of infection will provide life long immunity in individuals (1).

Click here for example images of this condition

Reference:


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.