Slapped cheek syndrome
When to get medical advice
You don't usually need to see your GP if you think you or your child has slapped cheek syndrome, as the condition normally gets better on its own.
However, you should contact your GP, call NHS 111 or contact your local out-of-hours service if you have been exposed to anyone with slapped cheek or you have symptoms of the infection and:
- you're pregnant infection in pregnancy, particularly early pregnancy, carries a risk of causing miscarriage , stillbirth or other complications; however, this risk is small and most pregnant women will already be immune (read more about the risks of slapped cheek syndrome in pregnancy )
- you have a blood disorder, such as sickle cell anaemia or thalassaemia , or a weakened immune system the infection can cause severe anaemia that may need to be treated in hospital
- you have symptoms of severe anaemia , such as very pale skin, severe shortness of breath , extreme tiredness or fainting
In these cases, a blood test may be carried out to see if you're immune to the infection. If you're not immune, you'll be monitored carefully to check for any problems.
If you develop severe anaemia, it's likely that you'll need to be admitted to hospital andhave a blood transfusion to replace your damagedblood cells.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Slapped cheek syndrome (also called fifth disease or parvovirus B19) is a viral infection that's most common in children, although it can affect people of any age. It usually causes a bright red rash to develop on the cheeks.
Symptoms of slapped cheek syndrome
Symptoms of slapped cheek syndrome usually develop 4-14 days after becoming infected, but sometimes may not appear for up to 21 days. Initial symptoms Some people with slapped cheek syndrome won'tno
When to get medical advice
You don't usually need to see your GP if you think you or your child has slapped cheek syndrome, as the condition normally gets better on its own. However, you should contact your GP, call NHS 111 or
What to do if you or your child has slapped cheek
Slapped cheek syndrome is usually mild and should clear up without specific treatment. If you or your child is feeling unwell, you can try the following to ease the symptoms: rest anddrink plenty
How do you get slapped cheek syndrome?
Slapped cheek syndrome is caused by a virus called parvovirus B19. This isfound in the droplets in the coughs and sneezes of someone with the infection. Thevirus is spread in a similar wayto colds a
Preventing slapped cheek syndrome
It's very difficult to prevent slapped cheek syndrome, because people who have the infection are most contagious before they develop any obvious symptoms. However, making sure that everyone in your h
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