Trying NOT to freak out!

[Quail_Antwerp]

Trying not to freak out here!

So the school nurse called me and said that my 6 yo son was in her office and he has a white lacey rash. She said it "could be" fifths disease and that since I'm pregnant it could be dangerous to the baby!

I've never even heard of fifth disease!

Then she said she doesn't think it's an emergency, and IF it is fifths disease he's no longer contagious since he has the rash. That they are only contagious before the rash shows up, but you won't know if a child has it UNTIL the rash shows up.



So now, tomorrow, when I go for my next appt. I have to tell my O.B. that I MAY have been exposed to Fifths disease, which means more bloodwork for me, and possibly frequent ultrasounds to monitor fetal growth.

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh and this school nurse calls over EVERYTHING even if my kids' break wind crossways.

 

[justusnak]

Deep breath....in, exhale slowly.
Generally, most pregnant women experience no serious complications if they are exposed to the parvovirus B19. In fact, about half of all women are already immune to the virus (although they may not know it) due to a previous exposure. Those women who do get sick usually experience only mild symptoms with no ill effects on their baby.
There....feel better!? Don't panic....everything will be just fine. Besides, the nurse isn't even "sure" thats what it is. right?

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

They are never sure.
I've googled the illness, and it says most adults are immune to it because they've already had it - but she said he has a white lacey rash. What I read said that's the last stage...they show up with a "hand slap" rash on their face first. I've NEVER seen anything like that.

The kids were outside ALL day yesterday playing with the water hose and in the sun.

She did also say it could be sun poisoning.

She also said he's not complaining of itching, pain, no fever, etc. etc. etc. Just a rash. No other symptoms.

I SO HATE THAT MY KIDS ARE BACK IN PUBLIC SCHOOL

 

[justusnak]

Oh, I bet its sun or wind "burn" and dry skin from the water!! Yup, I bet...are you going to go pick him up?? Public schools are an incubator for every illness out there known to mankind, and some unknown. I am glad my kids are grown...whew!

 

[Javamama]

Yeah - my kids got sent home from school once with those exact circumstances - and they wouldn't let them back in until I got a friggin' dr's excuse! Um, what's the point if the rash means the disease has run it's course? we got laughed out of the minute clinic because by the time we got there the 'rash' was gone and I had to explain the whole dang thing about the school...
But anyway, you are probably fine. It's probably a sun rash, but if not you've probably been exposed before. 5th's disease is common around here. Just let your OB know and chill out.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

No, I'm not going to pick him up. She said it wasn't an "emergency" only after she freaked out the pregnant chick!

She said it was fine for him to be in school etc etc etc.

E is po'ed! He said it could be any number of things - poison ivy, sun exposure, sumac, etc. etc. except he's not complaining of itching or anything.

She said it's on his arms and legs. He was in a short sleeved shirt, but I think long pants yesterday.

But they wore shorts on Friday and Saturday.

I figure at the very least, I can ask my Dr. to do a blood test to see if I'm immune because the nurse said they did have some diagnosed cases of Fifths disease in the school, to which I asked, "and why didn't you warn the parents??!!"

eta: I think I need to go sit with my bees............

 

[justusnak]

Bee therapy.....sounds great!!!! Just sit and humm with the bees. All is good!

 

[savingdogs]

Yeah - my kids got sent home from school once with those exact circumstances - and they wouldn't let them back in until I got a friggin' dr's excuse! Um, what's the point if the rash means the disease has run it's course? we got laughed out of the minute clinic because by the time we got there the 'rash' was gone and I had to explain the whole dang thing about the school...
But anyway, you are probably fine. It's probably a sun rash, but if not you've probably been exposed before. 5th's disease is common around here. Just let your OB know and chill out.

this happened to me with my daughter. She is fair and had been at the beach but they sent her home with "fifths' disease. We could see absolutely nothing on her face when we got there except a slight sunburn (which matched the sunburn on her shoulders, etc.). She was just little enough (about five or six I think) that she didn't think to tell them she had been at the beach the day before. By the time we got to the doctors the following afternoon she was no longer even looking sunburnt but the doctor calmly wrote me a note and said it happens all the time, the school has to be cautious but it is just a pain in the rear, often not fifth's disease at all.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

so the kids are home, so I looked at DS's arms - and it doesn't look like a white lacey rash to me, it looks like a red splotchy rash like my DD used to get with her eczema.




So no I'm not sure what to think.

E thinks if they have had actual cases of the Fifths at school, then could it STILL be possible that I could have been exposed????

I might still tell my Dr. just incase.

 

[Wannabefree]

I'd mention it to the doctor anyway just in case. Otherwise you are going to drive yourself crazy with worrying about it. And...well better safe than sorry, right? worry is not good either, so just go ahead and mention it.