Worried about this.. need someone to talk to..

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 22, 2005

Some reassuring words from the March of Dimes (the experts on birth defects and research):

http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/681_1185.asp

What is fifth disease?

Fifth disease (erythema infectiosum), a common, usually mild illness spread by airborne respiratory droplets, causes a distinctive "slapped cheek" rash and, less commonly, a mild fever, headache, sore throat and joint pain in children. Caused by parvovirus B19, it got its name years ago when it appeared fifth in a list of what were considered the common causes of childhood rash and fever.

Infected adults often experience joint pain and swelling, are less likely to develop a rash, and sometimes experience mild flu-like symptoms. Symptoms generally appear between 4 and 14 days after exposure.

About 20 percent of infected people have no symptoms and about 60 percent of adults have had the infection in childhood, often without knowing it. There is no vaccine against fifth disease.

What risk does parvovirus B19 infection pose to the fetus?

Fortunately, most fetuses are unaffected when their mothers contract the virus. However, when a fetus does become infected, the virus can disrupt its ability to produce red blood cells, leading to a dangerous form of anemia, heart failure, and up to a 9 percent risk of fetal death ¾ resulting in miscarriage or stillbirth. Fetal deaths are more likely when a pregnant woman contracts the infection in the first twenty weeks (first half) of pregnancy than if she contracts it after this time.

Fifth disease in pregnancy has not been proven to cause other birth defects.

Who is at risk of fifth disease?

Any susceptible person can catch fifth disease. It's best for a pregnant woman to be cautious and assume she is susceptible, especially if she is among the most likely to be exposed, i.e., women with young children, and those who work as teachers and childcare providers. A simple blood test can determine if someone already has been infected and, therefore, not at risk. A 1999 Danish study reported that, during a fifth disease outbreak, about 13 percent of susceptible pregnant women caught the virus. Susceptible nursery school teachers and others who worked with young children were three times more likely to become infected than women who worked in other professions.

However, most susceptible pregnant women caught the virus from their own children. The more children a susceptible pregnant woman had at home, the more likely she was to become infected. Compared to pregnant women with no children at home, women with one child were three times as likely to come down with the virus, while women with three or more children were nearly eight times as likely to become infected. Similarly, several studies suggest that about 50 percent of susceptible pregnant women with an infected child came down with the illness, compared to about 20 percent of susceptible teachers and childcare workers who were exposed to infected children.

Fortunately, mothers and those who work with young children also are more likely to be immune to fifth disease.

If there is an outbreak of fifth disease in the workplace, a pregnant woman should discuss with her doctor whether she should stay out of work until it subsides. To reduce the risk of infection, a pregnant woman should wash her hands thoroughly after touching tissues used by infected children, and dispose of tissues promptly. She also should avoid sharing drinking glasses or utensils with anyone who has or was exposed to the illness.

What should a pregnant woman do if she has been exposed to fifth disease?

A pregnant woman who has been exposed to fifth disease should consult her health care provider promptly. If she was exposed to an infected person during the contagious stage of the illness (generally before the rash develops), her provider may recommend a blood test to determine whether she has had fifth disease in the past and is immune, or if she currently has it.

How is fifth disease in a pregnant woman treated?

There is no drug to treat fifth disease. If a pregnant woman becomes infected, her provider will monitor the pregnancy carefully for signs of fetal problems. Severe fetal complications, such as abnormal pooling of fluid around the heart, lungs or abdomen, which may result from the dangerous form of anemia mentioned earlier, can be detected through repeated ultrasound examinations. Most fetal complications develop by about 10 weeks after the mother was infected. If ultrasound does not show any problems during this time, no further testing is recommended.

Researchers are seeking the most effective way to treat fetuses affected by these potentially life-threatening complications. Interventions include confirming the infection with recently developed tests that can detect parvovirus B19 in a sample of either amniotic fluid (obtained by amniocentesis) or fetal blood (obtained through the umbilical cord using a procedure called percutaneous umbilical blood sampling or PUBS). PUBS also can be used to help determine the severity of the fetal anemia, and to deliver an intrauterine blood transfusion directly into an umbilical cord blood vessel. It is not yet known how effective these methods are, nor is such treatment widely available. Some fetuses with severe complications from parvovirus infection have recovered without treatment and appear normal at birth..............

See the rest of the article regarding this and other diseases/illnesses in pregnancy and their regard to risk. I would just call my OB and tell him/her all of this and seek reassurance from him/her. It's hard to live with 4 other kids as you have, and NOT have been exposed to myriad childhood illnesses/diseases and not even be aware of it. Your awareness has raised concern, understandably, but you should be OK!!! Just call the OB and discuss this with him or her. (((Hugs)))

midwife2b · Jul 23, 2005

If you are concerned, you can get a Parvovirus IgG and IgM test. Gives an indication of whether you have been exposed to the disease in the past or have a current infection. Most of the time the ladies I have seen have had a past exposure, not current.