What Is 5th Disease?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
5. Symptoms in Adults
The characteristic rash that inspired the slapped cheek disease moniker is unlikely to occur in adults with 5th disease. They are also unlikely to show some of the other symptoms that children have, but they can show some symptoms that children don’t show. This tends to mean aches and pains and soreness of joints as well as itchiness of the rash.
The joints most affected tend to be the ankles, the wrists, the knees, and the joints in the hands. The discomfort can last for days, whereas it will last for weeks in some cases. The symptoms are not usually severe and will usually pass with no permanent damage being done.
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