BMJ 1994;308:149-150 (15 January)

Editorials

Human parvovirus B19

Infection with parvovirus B19 is most common in children between the ages of 4 and 11. About half the infections are asymptomatic, and many of the remainder cause a non-specific illness of the respiratory tract.1 The most common distinct disease associated with the infection is erythema infectiosum - also known as fifth disease or slapped cheek disease.2 Erythema infectiosum is usually diagnosed clinically only when there is an outbreak of illness with a rash in young children and red cheeks are a prominent feature. Illness with an erythematous rash due to parvovirus B19 infection is worldwide and common, but in the absence of laboratory tests it is often diagnosed as rubella (both rubella and parvovirus B19 infection have a similar seasonality), allergy, or simply a "viral infection."

An arthropathy similar to that seen in rubella may be associated with parvovirus B19 infection. The most common pattern is symmetric arthralgia or . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Articles

Human parvovirus B19
D Igoe, B Gilmer, H Johnson, and H J O'Neill
BMJ 1994 308: 918-919. [Extract] [Full Text]

Human parvovirus B19: Hard to differentiate from infectious mononucleosis
J W Jones, J V S Pether, R W P Frost, J A Snowden, and W I Ali-Wali
BMJ 1994 308: 595. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Igoe, D, Gilmer, B, Johnson, H, O'Neill, H J (1994). Human parvovirus B19. BMJ 308: 918-919 [Full text]  
  • Jones, J W, Pether, J V S, Frost, R W P, Snowden, J A, Ali-Wali, W I (1994). Human parvovirus B19: Hard to differentiate from infectious mononucleosis. BMJ 308: 595-595 [Full text]  
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