Miscarriage After Fifth Disease

There are typically no complications with pregnancy for an expectant woman who has fifth disease; however, in rare cases, a miscarriage after fifth disease can occur. It appears that miscarriages occur in less than 5 percent of all women who are infected with parvovirus B19 while they are pregnant. Miscarriage after fifth disease appears to be most common during the first trimester of pregnancy.

 

Miscarriage After Fifth Disease: An Overview

Usually, there are no serious complications for a pregnant woman or her baby due to fifth disease. About 50 percent of women are already immune to parvovirus B19 (the virus that causes fifth disease), and these women and their babies are protected from infection and illness. Even if a woman is susceptible and gets infected with parvovirus B19, she usually experiences only a mild illness. Likewise, her unborn baby usually does not have any problems attributable to parvovirus B19 infection.
 

How Common Is Miscarriage After Fifth Disease?

In rare cases, a miscarriage after fifth disease can occur. It appears that miscarriages happen in less than 5 percent of all women who are infected with parvovirus B19 while they are pregnant. A miscarriage after fifth disease appears to be most common during the first trimester. Such a miscarriage is most commonly due to nonimmune hydrops fetalis, a condition which causes severe anemia (low red blood cells) and congestive heart failure.
 
There is no evidence that parvovirus B19 infection in the mother, while she is pregnant, causes birth defects or mental retardation.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD