Parvovirus Development in Humans

Human parvovirus B19 is the only parvovirus that people catch. The Mayo Clinic says you cannot give your dog human parvo and you cannot get canine parvo.

Fifth Disease

• Parvovirus is called fifth disease because it was the fifth on an early 1900s standard list of five common childhood diseases that caused rashes. The others were measles, rubella, scarlet fever and Dukes disease.

Risk

• The parvovirus can cross the placenta and cause infection, fetal damage and miscarriage. It can be severe if you have cancer, sickle cell anemia, a weakened immune system or organ transplant.

Infection

• Infection is caused by contact with infected material, such as discharge from sneezing or coughing by a person with the disease. You are contagious until a rash develops. Incubation is between four and 14 days. Most treatment is for symptoms such as fever, itching or joint pain. Severe cases such as fetal infection require medical intervention.

Common

• Parvovirus is most common with younger school-age children in the winter and spring, but it is possible to get it at any age and any time of year.

Symptoms

• There may be no symptoms or you might have a sore throat, mild fever, headache and tiredness. Adults might have joint pain particularly in hands, wrists, feet and ankles. A red rash on the face that looks like the person has been slapped develops several days later. It might spread to down the body to the buttocks and can take two to three weeks to go away.