Protecting our children from seasonal or non-seasonal diseases is not easy, also because they are often exposed to many risks. In fact, both at school and in soccer or volleyball courses, the children all play together. And in these situations it can happen that if a child has a cold, he passes it on to others. The same is true for other diseases, such as the flu, but also for others that are less known.
Among these, a disease to which it is essential to pay attention is the fifth disease, an exanthematous pathology typical of childhood. By continuing to read, we will see what it is, how to recognize it and the main treatments that are used to treat it.
Red spots and sore throats could indicate this insidious disease typical of children
Fifth disease, also known as infectious megaloerythema, is a typical childhood infection that affects school-age children. It is caused by a virus known as parvovirus B19 and is highly contagious in its incubation period. This is why, often, it can happen that children, who still do not show clear symptoms, can involuntarily spread the disease with coughing or sneezing.
The fifth disease is recognized by the appearance of red spots on the face, or more rarely on the arms, trunk and thighs, and generates symptoms such as:
- fever;
- headache;
- sore throat;
- general malaise.
Usually, the red spots appear after at least 1 week and for this reason the fifth disease initially suggests a common flu.
Treatment of the fifth disease
As we have seen, red spots and sore throats could indicate this insidious disease of children, the fifth disease. And although it is essential to recognize and treat it, the disease usually clears up on its own within 1-3 weeks. Furthermore, a first infection should not only not be dangerous, it even protects against future infections, for life.
However, fifth disease can sometimes lead to unpleasant complications, especially in people with weaker-than-usual immune systems. In addition, it is essential to be careful of this virus in pregnancy, because it could cause serious health problems to the fetus.
Therefore, if you suspect that you have this disease, it is strongly recommended that you consult your doctor for diagnosis. The doctor will then prescribe the right therapy, which usually includes antipyretic drugs, rest and rehydration. In addition, to soothe the itchy spots, the application of special ointments is often recommended.
Here, then, is how to recognize the fifth disease.
Deepening
Beware because skin rash and fever in children could indicate this disease