REPORT: Contagious childhood disease on the rise among all age groups

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From Fox News: A respiratory disease known as parvovirus B19 is on the rise in the U.S. among all age groups, according to a recent advisory from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC issued the health alert on Aug. 13 after European public health authorities reported “unusually” high numbers of cases in 14 countries during the first quarter of 2024, the advisory said.

The virus typically causes a blotchy rash on the cheeks that appears as if someone has slapped them — hence its nickname, “slapped cheek disease.”

“Parvovirus can be a very mild infection in many people, but if you are pregnant or are immunocompromised in any way, you are at a much greater risk of serious illness,” Dr. Aaron Glatt, chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital on Long Island, New York, told Fox News Digital.

Below are excerpts from a press release by the CDC last week:

Parvovirus B19 is highly transmissible in respiratory droplets, with 50% of susceptible people infected after household exposure and 20–50% of susceptible students and staff infected during school outbreaks. Historically, people working in schools and in close contact with children (e.g., daycare workers and teachers) have had high occupational risk of infection. About 50% of adults have detectable antibodies by age 20 years. More than 70% of adults have detectable antibodies by age 40 years. Antibodies from prior infection are thought to protect against reinfection.

Parvovirus B19 infection can be transmitted during pregnancy (i.e., from mother to the fetus) or through transfusion of blood components and certain plasma derivates.

The first phase of illness is characterized by symptoms of fever, myalgia, and malaise and develops approximately 7 days after infection. This phase lasts approximately 5 days. People with parvovirus B19 infection are most contagious during the first phase, when viral loads in respiratory secretions and saliva are highest.

During the second phase of illness (approximately 7–10 days after the first phase), children often present with a characteristic facial rash (erythema infectiosum, or “slapped cheek” appearance), which may be followed by reticulated body rash or joint pain (arthralgia) 1–4 days later. In immunocompetent adults, the most common symptoms of parvovirus B19 disease typically occur during the second phase and include a reticular rash on the trunk and joint pain (arthralgia).

Typically, the characteristic facial rash does not appear until after viral loads (a measure of infectiousness) have declined. Laboratory tests conducted during acute illness can demonstrate a transient decrease in absolute reticulocyte counts lasting approximately 10 days, mild anemia, thrombocytopenia, or leukopenia.

Most people require only supportive care during the acute phase of illness and will recover completely. Severe outcomes from parvovirus B19 disease, such as myocarditis, hepatitis, or encephalitis, are rare. No vaccine or specific treatment is recommended for parvovirus B19 infection.

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