Symptoms of infection with parvovirus B19 appear about 5 to 10 days after contact with the virus.

Many people don't have symptoms. But when symptoms do appear, they depend on your age and whether you have health issues that affect the blood or immune system.

Parvovirus symptoms in children

Early symptoms of parvovirus infections in children can include:

• Fever.
• Upset stomach.
• Headache.
• Runny nose.
• Diarrhea.

Face rash

As the body clears out the parvovirus infection, children may get a face rash that looks like a slapped cheek. This is a symptom of fifths disease. The rash is red on white skin. It is purplish and harder to see on brown or Black skin.

Over time, a second rash may form on the arms, leg, chest, back and buttocks. This rash looks pink or purple, lacy and slightly raised. It may be itchy, especially on the soles of the feet.

The rash usually goes away in 7 to 10 days. But it can come and go for up to three weeks. Certain things might make the rash easier to notice. These include a change in weather temperature, time spent in the sun, stress or exercise.

Parvovirus infection symptoms in adults

Adults with parvovirus infections are more likely to get painful, swollen or stiff joints. Joint symptoms may be more common in women than in men. Most often, these symptoms last about 1 to 3 weeks. Joints that tend to be affected are the hands, wrists, knees, ankles and feet.

Most people with minor parvovirus infections don't need to see a healthcare professional. But some people have conditions that can make the illness worse or lead to other medical problems. Get a healthcare checkup for symptoms of a parvovirus infection if you or your child also has:

• A blood condition such as sickle cell anemia.
• A weakened immune system.

Also call your healthcare professional right away if you are pregnant.

Parvovirus infection is caused by a virus that spreads from person to person through sneezing, coughing and saliva. Infections can happen through close contact between people and through hand-to-hand contact.

Parvovirus B19 also can spread through blood or blood products. A pregnant person with the virus can pass it to the unborn baby as well.

Parvovirus B19 is most likely to spread early in an infection, when a person has cold-like symptoms. It's not likely to spread after later symptoms such as rashes and joint pain appear. Most often, it's safe to go back to work or school once the rash shows up.

Other types of parvoviruses exist, but they only infect animals such as cats and dogs. So you can't get infected from a sick pet. You also can't pass parvovirus B19 to a pet.

The main risk factors for parvovirus infection include your age and whether the virus that causes the infection is spreading in your area.

Parvovirus B19 spreads easily through the air and through hand-to-hand contact. The infection is common in children 5 to 15 years old. Because of that, being a caretaker for school-age children also can raise your risk.

Parvovirus B19 spreads at certain times of the year or during local outbreaks of parvovirus infection. For example, people in the United States tend to get the virus more often in late winter through early summer. Small outbreaks of the illness also happen every 3 to 4 years.

A parvovirus infection can lead to other health conditions called complications. The risk of complications is higher for some people, including:

• Those with blood conditions such as anemia.
• Pregnant people.
• People with weakened immune systems.

Parvovirus infection and anemia

Parvovirus infection can cause serious complications for people who have blood conditions such as anemia. With anemia, the body doesn't make enough healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen. Parvovirus infections in people with anemia can cause a major drop in red blood cells. The risk is very high for people with a type of anemia passed down in families called sickle cell anemia.

Parvovirus infection also can cause anemia and related complications in:

• The unborn children of pregnant people who become infected with parvovirus B19.
• People who have weakened immune systems.

Parvovirus infection in pregnancy

Parvovirus infection during pregnancy sometimes affects red blood cells in the unborn baby. This isn't common but it can cause severe anemia that could lead to miscarriage or stillbirth. The risk to the baby seems to be highest during the first half of the pregnancy.

Parvovirus infection in people with weakened immune systems

Parvovirus infection also can trigger severe anemia in people who have weakened immune systems, which may result from:

• HIV infection.
• Cancers such as leukemia and their treatments.
• Organ transplants or medicines that help prevent the body from rejecting transplanted organs.

There's no vaccine to prevent human parvovirus infection. But you can practice healthy habits to lower the chances of getting the illness:

• Wash your hands and your child's hands often.
• Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough.
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Stay away from people who are ill. And stay home when you're sick.
• Don't share food or drinks.

Diagnosis of a parvovirus infection involves a physical exam. Often, a healthcare professional can tell if a person has a parvovirus infection based on symptoms such as a face rash that looks like a slapped cheek.

People who are at risk of complications from parvovirus infections might need blood tests. Blood tests can help find out if people have natural protection from parvovirus infections or if they've recently become infected.

If a person is diagnosed with a parvovirus infection while pregnant, the healthcare team may suggest more tests. Ultrasound imaging and blood tests can help track the unborn baby's health. The amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby in the womb also may be tested. This is done to find out if the virus has spread to the baby.

Treatment for parvovirus infection depends on how sick you are. It also depends on whether you have other health concerns.

Rest and care at home may be enough to treat parvovirus infection for someone with no other health concerns.

Parvovirus infection can be more serious for people managing:

Blood conditions such as anemia

People with severe anemia may need blood from a donor, called a blood transfusion, in the hospital.

Weakened immune systems

People with weakened immune systems may need shots of medicine called immune globulin. This medicine helps the immune system clear out the virus.

Pregnancy

If a pregnant person gets a parvovirus infection, it may affect the unborn baby. The infection may cause the baby to have anemia and need a blood transfusion. The treatment may be done while the baby is in the womb or shortly after birth.

After you've had a parvovirus infection, you're not likely to get the infection again if your immune system is healthy. About half of adults have natural protection from future parvovirus infections. This most likely is because of an earlier childhood infection that might not have been noticed at the time.

If the immune system is weakened, there's a chance that the virus could become active in the body again. You might get infection symptoms again or severe anemia. If this happens, it's called a chronic parvovirus infection.

Lifestyle and home remedies for parvovirus infections can help relieve minor symptoms and ease discomfort. Make sure you or your child gets plenty of rest and drinks lots of fluids. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may help to relieve fever, minor aches and pains. Medicines such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) can be taken to ease joint pain.

Do not give aspirin to children or teenagers. Aspirin is approved for use in children older than age 3 to relieve pain. But children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. This is because aspirin has been linked to Reye's syndrome. Reye's syndrome is a rare condition that can be life-threatening in such children.

Keep your child home if your child is sick with cold-like symptoms. If your child has a parvovirus infection, a face rash might appear. Once that happens, your child can go back to school. By the time the rash shows up, the virus can no longer be passed to other people.

Make an appointment with a healthcare professional if you or your child has parvovirus infection symptoms and has a weakened immune system. A weakened immune system raises the risk of complications from parvovirus infection. Also make an appointment with your healthcare professional if you have parvovirus infection symptoms while pregnant.

What you can do

Before the appointment, write a list that includes:

• When and how you or your child was exposed to parvovirus B19.
• A detailed description of symptoms.
• Medical conditions that run in your family.
• Medical conditions you or your child has had in the past.
• All the medicines and supplements you or your child takes.

What to expect from your doctor

During the physical exam, your healthcare professional pays special attention to any skin rashes. If you're a female past puberty, your healthcare professional may ask if there's any chance you're pregnant.