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Fifth Disease
Fifth disease is a mild childhood illness caused by the human parvovirus B19 that
causes flu-like symptoms and a rash. It is called fifth disease because it was fifth on a
list of common childhood illnesses that are accompanied by a rash, including measles,
rubella or German measles, scarlet fever (or scarlatina), and scarlatinella, a variant of
scarlet fever. It is also called the "slapped cheek disease" because, when the
bright red rash first appears on the cheeks, it looks as if the face has been slapped.
Anyone can get the disease, but it occurs more frequently in school-aged children. |