Fifth Disease and Pregnancy: Prevention
There is no vaccine or medicine that can prevent
fifth disease. Frequent hand-washing is recommended as a practical and typically effective method of reducing the spread of the parvovirus. Excluding people with fifth disease from work, childcare centers, schools, or other settings is not likely to prevent the spread of
parvovirus B19, since these people are contagious before they develop the characteristic rash.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do not recommend that pregnant women should routinely be excluded from a workplace where a fifth disease outbreak is occurring because of the problems noted above. The decision to stay away from a workplace where there are cases of fifth disease is a personal decision for a woman to make, after discussions with her family, physician, and employer.
Fifth Disease and Pregnancy: Blood Tests
A blood test for parvovirus B19 may show one of the following:
- That you are immune to parvovirus B19 and have no sign of recent infection
- That you are not immune and have not yet been infected
- That you have had a recent infection.
If you are immune, then you have nothing further to be concerned about. If you are not immune and have not yet been infected, then you may wish to avoid further exposure during your pregnancy. If you have had a recent infection, you should discuss what to do to monitor your pregnancy with your physician.
Previous
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print