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Fifth
disease
in children
and healthy
adults
is a common
illness
that does
not have
any lasting
effects.
However,
if contracted
during
pregnancy,
fifth disease
may cause
complications.
Transmission
of fifth
disease
from the
mother
to baby
can have
serious
implications
to the
health
of the
baby. Fifth
disease
can cause
fetal anemia,
which if
undetected
can have
severe
consequences. If
the baby’s
blood count
becomes
too low,
which happens
with fetal
anemia;
intrauterine
death can
result.
Fortunately,
this tragic
outcome
can be
circumvented
with the
correct
and prompt
diagnosis
and treatment. To
learn more
about the
diagnosis
and treatment
of fifth
disease
in pregnancy,
please
click on
the “diagnosis & treatment” icon.
Facts
on fifth
disease
in pregnancy
- 30%
of
fetuses
will
acquire
fifth
disease
from
infected
mothers
- 10%
of
mothers
who
are affected
with
fifth
disease
will
loose
their
fetus
- 3%
of
infected
fetuses
will
develop
anemia
(fetal
hydrops)
- 60-80%
of
fetuses
survive
fetal
hydrops
when
treated
with
an intrauterine
blood
transfusion
(more
details
in
diagnosis
section)
- To
find
out if
you are
at risk,
please
select
the “Am
I at risk?” icon
on our
home
page
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