Infectious Erythema

It is an illness that usually goes unnoticed, or at least not diagnosed, during childhood, and is known as Megaloerythema or V disease. This old name, which is still used, comes from the XIX century, when Roman numbers were assigned (from I to VI) to the most frequent childhood exanthemas (reddening of the skin).

It is one of the diseases caused by the parvovirus B19, a virus that belongs to the Parvoviridae family, which commonly infects humans: approximately 50% of people were infected by it during childhood or adolescence. It must be understood that parvovirus B19 only infects humans. There are also parvovirus in animals, but those don’t infect people. Therefore, parvovirus B19 can’t be acquired from pets, such as dogs or cats.

Infectious Erythema or fifth disease has mild manifestations, with a rash that is more frequent in children. An ill child generally has an exanthemas of “slapped cheeks” on the face and red exanthemas, called reticular, in the torso and extremities. Occasionally the exanthema may itch. The child usually doesn’t feel sick and the exanthemas disappear in 7 to 10 days. Once the child recovers from the parvovirus infection, he or she develops a lasting immunity, which means the child is protected from future infections.

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