Friends daughter with Fifth Disease--is my baby at risk?

[mveebuff]

Im waiting to talk to my doctor, but thought I would find out if anyone out there has any knowledge of Fifth Disease?  My friend brought her daughter over this weekend, then I find out that she has Fifth disease, and her pediatrician says its fine as long as she hasnt been around any pregnant women!!!  GREAT!  THANKS!  Im 32 weeks today, and I have read a couple of things that say you are at greatest risk for anything bad to happen to your baby in your first trimester, but does anyone have any input?  Thanks very much!

[Emma1]

My daughter had Fifth's when she was 4. What my Dr. told me was that is a very mild case of something like Chicken pox. Kennedy never ran a fever, or acted sick. She just broke out in a red bumpy rash all over. Once a child has broken out like that, they are not contagious. I would check with your friend to see if she had broken out and then check with your DR. The only thing my Dr. gave Kennedy was Benedryl. He said it wasn't a cause for concern. Good luck to you!!!!!

[stacie9-15]

I would seek your doctor immediately. I don't want to scare you, but I had a friend who was 8 months pregnant & got Fifth disease. She lost the baby. She is an early childhood teacher; so she got it from one of her students. I just don't want the same thing happening to you. My friend now has a 1 year old with another on the way; so there is a good ending.

[shelbert6]

My oldest daughter had it when she was 5.  Once the red rash is gone and there are no more flu-like symptoms, such as sneezing and coughing, the infected person shouldn't be contagious anymore.  Did you notice a red rash anywhere on her?  Did she have a runny nose, or act like she had a cold or flu?  You definitely should report the contact to your dr. just so they are aware.  5th Disease is Human Parvovirus B-19.  Just a note, you can not catch this from your pets, as this is the human version.  I wondered if my daughter had picked it up from one of the dogs, but not possible.    

Regards,
Shelly

[mveebuff]

I spoke with the doctor, and they dont seem overly concerned about it,  I just need to go in next week with my regular monthly appointment and have a blood test to make sure I was not affected.  She had already been showing a rash when I saw her, and had seemingly been sick with the flu for over a week before I saw her, so HOPEFULLY she was no longer catching by the time I spent time with her!  Thank you for your information,  I appreciate it!

[msklar]

This happened to another girl in this forum a few months ago. I believe what she found out was that since she was out of her 1st trimester the chance of anything bad happening was slim. And you are very far along so even other developmental things are finished with your baby. I would try to look it up somewhere online, or talk to your doctor...

[nurse12hr]

Found this for you:

"The first thing that should be done right away, in any pregnant patient, is a blood test for Parvovirus (Fifth Disease) titers. If this shows previous infection, nothing further needs to be done. The patient is immune, and - because of her antibodies - will be able to shield her unborn child from the infection.

But if the test shows she is not immune, then a repeat blood test is done 2 weeks later to see if infection actually occurred. (It takes this amount of time to develop antibodies.) The "2 wk test" is done automatically as the presence or absence of symptoms is not a prerequisite. Unfortunately there may be no symptoms to signal that the patient had an infection. Even when the patient had some sort of "symptoms," it is of no help. They might well have been caused by a totally different virus. Only a blood test can really resolve the issue, and hence the reason why we do the test automatically. Please take some comfort in the fact that even without immunity, exposure to Parvovirus does not inevitably lead to infection.

But if the blood test changes to positive for Parvovirus (Fifth Disease), then it is necessary to follow the baby with ultra-sound. Once again take some peace of mind in this fact: Even in the face of infection only 5-10% of babies will ultimately have a problem.

Though it occurs in only 5-10% of fetal infections, the virus sometimes attacks the baby's bone marrow and suppresses it. Because the bone marrow's job is to manufacture red blood cells, suppression by the virus - if severe - can cause the baby to develop a temporary, though very substantial anemia. The only warning sign of this anemia is when abnormal fluid appears in the baby's abdomen. Ultra-sound is the only way to know if this has happened, as there are no other symptoms or signs. To complicate matters, there is no way to predict when, if, or even how quickly this fluid might appear. Repeated ultra-sounds to follow the baby are necessary for several months after maternal infection (or longer) until we feel certain that the danger has passed.

In the event that fluid is found, consultation with a Perinatologist and often referral to a major Medical Center is necessary. In severe cases, intra-uterine blood transfusion will be recommended. Transfusions are the one way we have to support the baby's red blood count until the virus subsides. When the baby's infection finally is over, its bone marrow will recover without permanent injury and once again take over the normal manufacture of blood cells."

[mveebuff]

Thank you so much for the information, I really do appreciate it.  I am going to try hard not to stress about this, I have heard over and over that by the 3rd trimester its very rare for anything to happen, and thats what Im going to try and concentrate on till I get test results!

[as22]

Thank you for the information.  I am about six weeks pregnant and I have been around 6 kids who have had this.  I been trying to keep positive thoughts.  Thanks again