The mother-to-be is suffering from pregnancy complications due to parvovirus infection

The agency has issued an alert to medical professionals to be on the lookout for signs of the virus that is often referred to in the form of fifth disease. Women who are pregnant are particularly at high risk.

Abby Parks had never heard of parvovirus when she began feeling flu-like symptoms in late April, followed by joint pain and a rash. Parks, 27, a special education teacher in Springfield, Illinois, was about 18 weeks pregnant and had been feeling very sick with a fever for days, but tests for Covid and strep came back negative.

The nurse at the school, who was observing students who had “really rosy, red cheeks,” suggested Parks could be suffering from the same infection.

“I got progressively sicker,” she explained. “I was in bed with a fever for four or five full days.”

When the blood tests conducted by her OB-GYN turned positive for parvovirus B19 the beginning of May and she was referred to the maternal fetal medicine specialist. The doctor was able to determine that the virus was passed on to the fetus while in the uterus. The fetus developed anemia, which is a hazardous condition. The doctors gave the fetus blood transfusion during the uterus.

The incidence of parvovirus B19 which is more commonly called”Fifth disease” also known as “slapped cheek syndrome” because of the red pimple that appears on an infected person’s facial area — is increasing across the U.S. On Tuesday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an warning to physicians to be on the lookout for signs of the highly contagious seasonal flu.

The majority of infections occur for children aged 5 to 9 years old, the CDC stated. From March to the present, parvovirus is present across Europe in unusually high rates, as per the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Many adults have experienced the disease as children and are safe. However the CDC advised that pregnant women as well as people suffering from sickle cell disease who’ve never had exposure are at risk of developing serious illnesses.

Parks doctor Kathy Bligard, a Washington University OB-GYN working at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis she explained: “Abby is not the only patient who’s fetus required a blood transfusion over the past few months to treat parvovirus. It’s definitely something I would see perhaps once a year, and have seen several times over the past few months.”

Bligard stated that parvovirus can be dangerous for pregnant women due to the fact that it is able to traverse the placenta, and then infect the fetus. It can cause it to become anemic which could result in premature death of the fetus.

Parks has been cured of the virus, however her pregnancy remains in danger.

In the morning of Wednesday, after an ultrasound indicated that the fetus was not receiving adequate blood flow from the placenta Parks received admission to an inpatient clinic in Springfield to take care of the infant.

“I do think it was lifesaving for the fetus,” Parks declared regarding the previous transfusion. “Because if that anemia had persisted, with that low blood count, the baby could have died,” Parks declared in an interview on Wednesday on her hospital bed.

Bligard claimed that the virus makes it difficult for a foetus to create fresh red blood cell. “In order to get oxygen to all of the important organs in our body, our body relies on having those red blood cells. And so it can cause heart failure or even progression to death by having low blood counts.”

While the disease mostly affects children but when adults do contract it, it can trigger more severe symptoms, such as joint pain and anemia that result from issues in the production of red blood cells according to doctor. Vincent Iannelli, a pediatric neurologist in the Dallas region. A low number of red blood cells can lead to pregnancy-related complications.

People suffering from sickle cell disease are also at a high risk.

“Over the past month or two, I think we’ve been seeing more cases,” Iannelli told the AP. Typically, Iannelli will see a fifth disease case per month; however, that he’s seeing one or two cases every week, and he noted that the disease is more prevalent in season of spring and summer.

What are the signs that indicate Fifth Disease?

In children Fifth disease is usually moderate. Its characteristic symptoms include breathing and fever which are followed by an itch that is red on the cheeks. Then an “lacy” rash on the other parts of the body which could be itchy.

The rash is noticed towards the close of the infection. It usually disappears within seven up to 10 days however it can last for several weeks. It is important to note that someone suffering from Fifth disease is not a risk to others after the rash has appeared. “Unfortunately, by the time you know your kid has it, they’re not contagious anymore,” Iannelli stated.

The rash may be more prominent in hot temperatures and light, however it won’t make the condition more severe, Iannelli said.

Women who are pregnant and experience symptoms of joint pain and difficulties in the production of red blood cells need to inform their physicians immediately, especially when they suspect they’ve had contact with patients suffering from Fifth disease, say doctors.

Iannelli isn’t convinced that the increase of cases is an alarm signal.

“Fortunately, most pregnant women had it when they were kids, so they’re immune to it, but every once in a while we do see adults,” he added.

In the end, “if you’re healthy, it’s a mild disease,” Iannelli stated. “If you’re suffering from issues with your immune system or you’re expecting, in the early stages of your pregnancy, you should inform your doctor. For everyone else, it’s basically an itch.”

He explained the CDC alert was meant to educate doctors, and not to worry the general public.

What is the reason it is called fifth disease?

The early 1900s saw doctors created the list of typical skin rashes that children experience to help them make more precise diagnosis. They identified six main skin rashes:

• Measles is a highly transmissible virus which can cause severe rash, fever as well as respiratory issues.
• Scarlet fever is an invasive bacterial infection caused by streptococcus group A.
• Rubella is a virus disease commonly referred to by the name of German measles. If a person is exposed to the virus to the virus during pregnancy, it could cause stillbirth or miscarriage. The CDC recommends two doses of the mumps-measles-rubella vaccine for children.
• Filatov Dukes, no longer considered an illness that is distinct.
• Fifth Disease or parvovirus B19 commonly referred to as erythema infectioniosum.
• Roseola A viral disease often referred to as Sixth disease that may cause high fever as well as itchy rash.

There are more recognised childhood rashes, like chickenpox. As such, the numbering system doesn’t work any more, with the exception of the Fifth disease.

In The hospital Parks is now 30 weeks pregnant and old, is being closely watched. She would like other pregnant women to know about the disease and be checked if they’ve been exposed.

“It has been truly the most difficult experience to go through,” Parks declared. “He wasn’t guaranteed to come through the fetal anemia.”

Corrected (August 15 2024, at 11:04 a.m. ET) The earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the name of Dr. Kathy Bligard’s name and affiliation. She is a Washington University OB-GYN at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, not Washington University Hospital.