$Unique_ID{BRK01546}
$Pretitle{Infections or Parasites}
$Title{Where Did the Name "Fifth" Disease Come From?}
$Subject{infection virus childhood}
$Volume{A}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Where Did the Name "Fifth" Disease Come From?


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QUESTION:  Do you know what the thinking was in giving a number as the name of
a disease.  I am referring to "Fifth" disease a recent addition to my
daughters medical history.  Where did the name come from?

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ANSWER:  I can see you are a bit confused but it is easy to straighten out.
Normally diseases have names that describe the condition or bear the name of
the discoverer.  However in the case of children's diseases, there are five of
them that have similar rashes.  Four received names.  They are German measles,
measles, scarlet fever, and roseola (once know as Filatov-Dukes disease or
Fourth Disease).  When the fifth childhood rash was discovered it was simply
named Fifth Disease (its also known as Erythema Infectiosum).  This disease
affects school age children worldwide, infants and adults only being affected
infrequently.  Only a low grade fever accompanies the infection, which
characteristically produces a rash that gives the child a "slapped-cheek"
appearance.  This rash fades after about 11 days, is usually itchy, and
becomes worse if the child is bathed in warm water, becomes upset or rubs the
skin.  No treatment is required, complications are rare, and this childhood
disease is considered to be a very mild one.  Compared to some of the
jawbreaking names we give diseases, I think Fifth Disease is simple one to
remember.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
