Pregnancy & Fifth Disease.

One of my friends, who's a teacher, was worried about fifth disease while she was pregnant. What is it?

Fifth disease, also called parvovirus B19, is a mild, moderately contagious airborne infection that spreads easily through groups, such as classrooms or day-care centers. (It is not the same infection that affects dogs.) The rash of the disease looks like skin reddening ' caused by a slap. Reddening fades and recurs and can last from 2 to 34 days. There is no treatment, but it is important to distinguish it from rubella, especially if you are pregnant.

Should I be concerned about it?
It is something to know about. This virus is important during pregnancy because it interferes with the production of red blood cells. If you are exposed to fifth disease, contact your doctor, who will do a blood test that determines whether you have had the virus before. If you have not, he or she can monitor you to detect fetal problems. Some fetal problems can be dealt with before the baby is born.

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