Can you get slapped cheek twice?

Hi My son had 5ths/slapped cheek syndrome about 5weeks ago, yesterday his cheeks started getting red and flushed again and today they are the same as when we went to our doc 5 weeks ago and got the 1st diagnosis. I read that once you have this its like chicken pox and you don't get it again - any ideas why he would get it again or what it is ?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It is true that individuals who have been infected once by parvo virus causing slapped cheek disease are generally considered immune to recurrent infection, but reinfection is possible in a minority of cases. So if the doctor is diagnosing it as slapped cheek disease, then reinfection is a possibility.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.