From the Guidelines
Fifth disease is a self-limiting illness that requires supportive treatment, focusing on symptom management with acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and discomfort, as well as rest and adequate fluid intake. The disease is characterized by fever, headache, chills, myalgia, conjunctival suffusion, and less frequently by meningitis, rash, jaundice, or renal insufficiency, with symptoms that may be biphasic 1. Key features of the illness include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Chills
- Myalgia
- Conjunctival suffusion
- Potential for meningitis, rash, jaundice, or renal insufficiency in some cases Treatment should be tailored to the individual's symptoms, with adults taking standard doses of acetaminophen (650mg every 6 hours) or ibuprofen (400mg every 6 hours as needed), and children's dosing based on weight. It is essential to note that the illness is usually mild, lasting 1-3 weeks, but certain groups such as pregnant women, people with blood disorders, or immunocompromised individuals should seek medical attention if exposed, as complications can occur in these groups 1. Prevention measures include hand washing and avoiding close contact with infected individuals, although the virus is most contagious before the rash appears.
From the Research
Definition and Symptoms of Fifths Disease
There is no direct information available about Fifths disease in the provided studies.
Treatment and Management
- The studies provided do not discuss the treatment of Fifths disease, but they do discuss the use of analgesic and antipyretic medications such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Aspirin is not recommended for use in children due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can cause liver and brain damage 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are considered safer alternatives for treating pain and fever in children 2.
Relationship between Aspirin and Reye's Syndrome
- Some studies suggest a link between aspirin use and Reye's syndrome in children 4, 5, 6.
- However, other studies argue that the evidence for this link is not conclusive 3.
- The use of aspirin in children has declined significantly since the 1980s, and this decline has been accompanied by a decrease in the incidence of Reye's syndrome 5.