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Who Is Affected by Fifth Disease

About 60% of fifth disease infections occur in children between the ages of 5 and 15 years.1 Adults also may become infected with parvovirus B19, although most people get fifth disease when they are children. About half of people who have been infected with parvovirus B19 develop immunity to the virus, which means they cannot get the disease again.2

Outbreaks of fifth disease infections are more common during the winter and spring months.

About 1 or 2 out of 100 women of childbearing age are infected during pregnancy.1

Citations

  1. Levin MJ, Weinberg A (2011). Erythema infectiosum section of Infections: Viral and rickettsial. In WW Hay Jr et al., eds., Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Pediatrics, 20th ed., pp. 1137–1138. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010). Parvovirus B19 (fifth disease). National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Division of Viral Diseases. Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/respiratory/parvo_b19.htm.
By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer John Pope, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer Christine Hahn, MD - Epidemiology
Last Revised March 2, 2011

Last Revised: March 2, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: John Pope, MD - Pediatrics & Christine Hahn, MD - Epidemiology

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