While rosy cheeks can be a sign of health in young children, that was certainly not the case for a six-year-old boy whose pink cheeks were recently identified as the symptom of a virus.
According to Reshining Clinic deputy superintendent Pan Chun-shen (潘俊伸), the boy’s parents thought the red blotches on his cheeks were caused by warm weather, until they started spreading to his torso and limbs a few days later.
“The rashes were slightly itchy and were accompanied by fever and a runny nose, which led the clinic to diagnose the boy with parvovirus B19 infection, a common illness in children that is sometimes referred to as slapped-cheek syndrome or the fifth disease,” Pan said.
Photo provided by Pan Chun-shen
Parvovirus B19 is transmitted primarily by respiratory secretions, but can also spread through blood or blood products. Red rashes on the face or other parts of the body generally appear four to 20 days after infection.
Pan said the illness is most prevalent among children aged between five and 15 and tends to occur in spring and early summer.
“In the early stages symptoms are similar to those of a respiratory infection, such as a runny or blocked nose; it often cannot be identified until the rash becomes visible,” Pan said, adding that the disease is no longer contagious after the rash appears.
Pan said that while there is no specific medicine to treat the condition, parents can purchase antipyretics or drugs designed to assuage coughing and clear blocked noses to ease symptoms.
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