Parvovirus B19, or fifth disease, which is mostly seen in children between the ages of 5-15 and creates a red appearance as if they were slapped due to rashes on the cheeks, has been frequently on the agenda lately. President of the Turkish Pediatric Association, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Specialist Prof. Dr. Haluk Çokuğraş also gave information about the symptoms and effects of the disease. Prof. Dr. Çokuğraş gave information about diseases that could be confused with fifth disease, and also warned families.
Prof. Dr. Haluk Çokuğraş, “Rash; It is on the outer surface of the arms and legs and gradually turns into a lace. Fifth disease is really on the rise right now. It was there every year this season, but this year there is a little more. It can be confused with scarlet fever, but the scarlet fever rash covers the whole body, not just the cheeks. It may cause confusion with allergic diseases, we are experiencing this. “There are people who come saying ‘He ate pickles, he ate this and his face turned red,'” he said.
“IT HAS INCREASED RECENTLY, THERE IS A LITTLE MORE THIS YEAR”
Prof. said that fifth disease causes a rash similar to a slap mark on the child’s cheek. Dr. Haluk Çokuğraş said, “Fifth disease is actually an extremely simple virus infection. It is a rash disease that occurs every year, especially during school seasons, autumn, winter and spring, in older children between the ages of 5 and 15, due to a virus we call parvovirus B19. The rash is extremely typical, in fact it is not confused with anything, someone who understands this business will recognize it immediately. What kind of rash happens? Both cheeks turn red as if they had been slapped. Debris; on the outer surfaces of the arms and legs. It gradually turns into a lace, a rash with indentations and protrusions. These rashes come one after another, first there is a rash, you think it’s going away, then it happens again, then it happens again, and this lasts for about a week. An accompanying mild fever may sometimes be present, it may not be present at all, and sometimes it may be itchy. The absence of this fever and sometimes a little itching can really cause this disease to be confused with allergic diseases, which we experience.
There are many patients who come to us saying, ‘He ate a pickle or that and his face turned red.’ Fifth disease has really increased these days, I see this in my own practice and hear it from other friends. Every year there is this season, but this year there are a little more. It is a very simple disease, it almost has no complications, but it can rarely cause anemia in people with impaired immune systems. It affects school children, but sometimes it can also occur in adults. When it occurs in adult women, joint complications may occur. The spread of the rash does not cover the body well. It can sometimes be confused with scarlet fever due to the redness on the cheeks, but the scarlet fever rash affects the whole body and not just the cheeks. The whole body may sometimes be red as if ink has been applied, and the fever is much higher.” said.
“ANTIBIOTIC IS NEVER USED IN THIS DISEASE, Türkiye IS STILL THE COUNTRY WHERE ANTIBIOTIC IS USED WORST”
Prof. gave advice on what to do in case of fifth disease. Dr. Çokuğraş said, “It can be transmitted, but it is not extremely contagious like measles. Resting at home for a few days is rarely possible if the itching is excessive, perhaps an itching-relieving antihistamine medication can be used for a few days. If a fever occurs, an antipyretic can be used, antibiotics are never used. This is the fifth disease, there is also the sixth disease; This is a rash disease that is seen in children under 3 years of age and generally in children between 6 months and 2 years of age. But what kind of rash disease; It’s also very typical. There will be a very high fever for about 3 days, 39-40 degrees and sometimes even seizures, it can be that high. There are usually no other physical examination findings. You will be surprised, sometimes a lot of tests can be done to find out what is happening to this child and why he has a fever, but at the end of the 3rd day, the fever suddenly drops and a measles-like rash appears.
A thin rash that affects the whole body only lasts 24 hours and disappears. What is remarkable here is; is the age of the child. There is no cure, children only receive symptomatic treatment. Things that might be confusing here: If you use antibiotics or some other medications incorrectly during these rash diseases, you can sometimes interpret these rashes as drug allergy, so you need to be careful. First of all, we should not use antibiotics too carefully. Türkiye is still the country where antibiotics are used the worst, last year we lost the first place to Greece. We took it back again this year, unfortunately, using antibiotics in every febrile illness makes it difficult for us to interpret the symptoms that may occur. “In cases of high fever, it is best to consult a doctor.” he said.
“THESE ARE INFECTIOUS DISEASES, WHEN THEY APPEAR, THEY SHOULD KEEP THEM AWAY FROM OTHER CHILDREN”
Speaking about hand, foot and mouth disease, Prof. Dr. Çokuğraş continued his words as follows:
“Hand, foot and mouth disease is a disease we have known for a long time, and there may be some increases from time to time. Fever may occur, and it is a disease that can typically cause some rashes, blisters or sores on the hands, especially the palms, soles of the feet, in and around the mouth. Sometimes it can cause very serious fever. It is not a disease caused by a single virus, but a disease caused by several different viruses, some of which can cause epidemics. There have been such epidemics recently, especially in the Far East.
It is not difficult to diagnose; there is not much rash on the trunk, arms and legs. It mostly occurs on the hands and feet, but there may also be some atypical cases where the rash occurs on the arms, albeit to a lesser extent. All these viral diseases have no specific treatment. In hand, foot and mouth disease, when there are wounds and lesions in the mouth, the nutrition of those children may be impaired. When these are contagious diseases and such a situation occurs, it is necessary to keep them away from other children for a while. It would be beneficial for them to stay at home for a few days as much as possible. There are no vaccines for these diseases because they have not been found yet. “It is important to ensure that these children are well nourished, because during illnesses, children’s appetite can be disrupted, and their nutrition can actually be disrupted.” (UAV)
