Disease of the slap or infectious erythema in babies and children

In the last times, in the consultations of pediatrics we have seen many cases of a disease that is known as "slap syndrome". Have you heard about it? Surely yes. It has several names: swelling disease, infectious erythema or fifth disease , but all these terms refer to a condition that mainly affect

In the last times, in the consultations of pediatrics we have seen many cases of a disease that is known as "slap syndrome". Have you heard about it? Surely yes.

It has several names: swelling disease, infectious erythema or fifth disease, but all these terms refer to a condition that mainly affects babies, children and adolescents.

What is the disease of the slap or infectious erythema

1- Doctors call it "infectious erythema" or "fifth disease". It belongs to the group of exanthematic diseases, which are those that are accompanied by spots on the skin.

2- Its causative agent is a virus called parvovirus B19.

3- The disease of the slap can also affect adults, the most typical is that it affects children and adolescents, between 5 and 15 years old.

4- The picture begins with a nonspecific phase similar to a common cold (fever, cough, mucus), and it subsides spontaneously. Poco 5- Shortly afterwards, manchas bright red spots appear on the face ("slap" phase).

6- Later, spots will appear on the trunk, arms and legs. 7- With the passing of days, the center of the spots becomes clearer, so that the rash acquires a lace appearance, or network.

8- Pain in the joints (wrists, knees, ankles) can appear in adults and adolescents.

9- Treatment of the swelling disease is symptomatic, and consists of

administering analgesics

to improve the general condition. 10- It is important to avoid that infected subjects avoid contact with pregnant women (complications may arise in the fetus) and with patients with anemia (this may worsen their basic situation).