Fifth Disease in Adults – Symptoms and Treatment
Fifth disease in adults is a viral infection caused by Parvovirus B19. In adults, it often presents with joint pain and swelling rather than the classic facial rash seen in children.
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Fifth disease in adults is a viral infection caused by Parvovirus B19. In adults, it often presents with joint pain and swelling rather than the classic facial rash seen in children.
What is Fifth Disease in Adults?
Fifth disease, medically known as erythema infectiosum, is a contagious viral illness caused by Parvovirus B19. While it is commonly associated with childhood, adults who were not previously exposed to the virus can also become infected. In adults, the disease often presents differently and can cause more pronounced symptoms than in children.
Causes and Transmission
Parvovirus B19 spreads primarily through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Close personal contact and touching contaminated surfaces followed by touching the face can also lead to transmission. Adults who did not develop immunity during childhood are susceptible to infection.
Symptoms in Adults
Unlike children, adults often do not develop the classic bright red cheek rash (the so-called slapped cheek rash). Instead, the most prominent symptoms in adults include:
- Joint pain and swelling (arthralgia and arthritis), particularly affecting the hands, wrists, knees, and ankles
- General fatigue and malaise
- Low-grade fever
- Headache
- Occasionally a lacy or blotchy rash on the trunk or limbs
Joint symptoms in adults can persist for several weeks to months and may sometimes be mistaken for a rheumatic condition such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Risk Groups and Complications
Most healthy adults recover fully without complications. However, certain groups face a higher risk of serious illness:
- Pregnant women: Infection during pregnancy, especially in the first and second trimesters, can lead to hydrops fetalis (severe fluid accumulation in the unborn child) or, in rare cases, miscarriage.
- Immunocompromised individuals: People with HIV, those undergoing chemotherapy, or organ transplant recipients may develop a chronic infection with persistent anemia.
- People with blood disorders such as sickle cell disease or hereditary spherocytosis are at risk of an aplastic crisis, a temporary but severe shutdown of red blood cell production.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is initially based on clinical symptoms. Because the typical rash is often absent in adults, a blood test is usually required to confirm the infection. The test looks for specific antibodies against Parvovirus B19 (IgM and IgG). Elevated IgM antibodies indicate a recent or active infection. In special cases, direct virus detection using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) may be performed.
Treatment
There is no specific antiviral therapy available for Parvovirus B19. Treatment is therefore symptomatic and may include:
- Pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory medications (e.g., ibuprofen or paracetamol) for joint pain and fever
- Adequate rest and reduced physical activity
- Increased fluid intake
In immunocompromised patients, treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins may be considered in severe cases. Pregnant women with a confirmed infection should be closely monitored by a specialist to assess the wellbeing of the unborn child.
Prevention
There is currently no vaccine available against Parvovirus B19. General hygiene measures are the best form of prevention, including frequent handwashing and avoiding close contact with infected individuals. It is important to note that infected individuals are most contagious before the rash appears, so isolation after the rash develops is usually not effective in preventing further spread.
References
- Robert Koch Institute (RKI): Parvovirus B19 Infection (Fifth Disease) – Advisory for Physicians. RKI, Berlin. Available at: www.rki.de
- Young, N. S. & Brown, K. E.: Parvovirus B19. New England Journal of Medicine, 350(6), 586–597, 2004. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra030840
- World Health Organization (WHO): Parvovirus B19 – Disease Fact Sheet. WHO, Geneva. Available at: www.who.int
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