All about slapped cheek syndrome

What is slapped cheek syndrome?

The curiously named slapped cheek syndrome is also known as erythema infectiosum or fifth disease - because it is the fifth most common disease characterised by a rash in children.

It is an infection caused by the virus parvovirus B19. Six in every ten people in the UK are thought to have been infected at some point, normally between the ages of 4 to 12. Typically there is an outbreak every 3 or 4 years.

Symptoms of slapped cheek syndrome

In some cases (20-30%) there will be no symptoms at all. In the early stages of incubation (from 4 to 20 days) there will not normally be any symptoms, however this is when the patient is contagious. Once the rash appears the infected person will no longer be infectious.

Typical symptoms include:

• mild fever or other flu like symptoms

• headache

• stuffy or runny nose

• sore throat

• tiredness

The slapped cheek name derives from a distinctive blotchy rash on the face. This is normally not painful but can become itchy. It may also spread to other parts of the body.

It can take between 1 and 3 weeks for the rash to clear.

How does it spread?

The disease is spread in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through saliva or other close contact with an infected person. This is why the disease can quickly spread through schools and nurseries.

Prevention and treatment

There is no vaccine at this time for parvovirus B19. People who have previously been infected are immune to further infection.

To limit the spread of infection, good hygiene procedures should be followed.

This article was published on Tue 3 November 2009