Signs of The Parvovirus B19 and Why It’s Called The ‘Slapped Cheek’ Disease

Recently, the United States has seen a significant rise in the highly contagious parvovirus, and the Centers for Disease Control has warned Americans.

With the increase in human parvovirus activity in the United States, the CDC is warning people about the new disease, and local organizations are keeping ahead of it, according to 25News Now. Officially known as human parvovirus B19, the sickness is a respiratory infection with flu-like symptoms.

Symptoms include fever, headache, cough, sore throat, and in kids, a rash can develop on their face giving them a “slapped cheek” appearance, according to the news outlet.

OSF St. Francis Medical Center Media Relations Coordinator Matt Sheehan revealed that the parvovirus can be passed around through droplets, and is being seen mostly in children. A significant cause for concern is pregnant women since they can pass the infection to their fetus if they’re infected

“Populations that are at-risk are those who are immunocompromised, those with a blood disorder, and sickle-cell anemia,” Sheehan said.

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 close contact with children (e.g., daycare workers and teachers) have had a 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 infections 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 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends testing all plasma-derived products and plasma units for parvovirus B19 using nucleic acid tests. There is no testing in Whole blood for parvovirus B19 in the United States. Transfusion-associated parvovirus B19 infection is uncommon, according to the CDC.

The CDC says that although many people with parvovirus B19 infection are asymptomatic, immunocompetent children and adults with symptomatic disease typically develop a biphasic illness.

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.

In March of the year 2020, Covid-19 took the United States and other parts of the world by storm, causing a record number of deaths ever caused by a health pandemic.

Many government agencies, including the American Centers for Disease Control, issued mandates for all citizens to shelter in place and wear facial mask coverings when going into public areas such as grocery stores and healthcare facilities.

The Coronavirus, the official name for the deadly disease that devastated families of loved ones who died from it, reared its ugly head time and time again until a permanent vaccine was discovered