What Is 5th Disease?
2. Causes
5th disease is caused by the human parvovirus B19. It is not the same disease that affects cats and dogs despite the similar name. The virus is spread from person to person in droplets from coughing, saliva, and breathing. It can be caught through contact with infected surfaces, including the hands of infected people.
In some cases, a pregnant mother will pass the virus on to her unborn child. 5th disease is most common among children that are of school age, largely because they tend to stay close together in groups. Outbreaks of the disease are likely to occur during colder weather.
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