Fifth disease, also known as erythema infectiosum, is a benign childhood condition that affects many children each year to its easy mode of transmission. As providers, understanding the etiology of the illness, presentation, differential diagnoses, treatment, and management, will be of high importance for all patients. This paper will discuss the medical problem, the pathophysiology of the infection, typical presenting signs and symptoms, three differential diagnoses, the expected outcomes of the intervention, and a typical clinical note.
Medical Problem-Fifth Disease
Fifth disease is an illness of school-aged children that is moderately contagious, but the nonspecific nature of the exanthema and a …show more content…
Scarlet fever is a bacterial infection caused by group A streptococci (GAS). The illness affects a small number of people that have strep throat. The illness usually presents with a fever and sore throat, and maybe chills, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The tongue may have a white appearance, appear swollen, and have a “strawberry” like appearance (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2016). One or two days after the illness begins, a characteristic red rash appears. The rash usually first appears on the neck, underarm, and groin and then spreads over the body and feels like sandpaper. Hand-foot-mouth disease is a common viral illness that starts with a fever, decreased appetite, sore throat, and malaise. One or two days later the fever starts, painful sores can develop in the mouth and a skin rash with red spots may also develop on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015). Measles is rarely seen in the United States because of universal vaccination. The condition is usually associated with a high fever, lethargy, sneezing, eyelid edema, tearing, copious coryza, harsh cough, and koplik spots can appear in the mouth. A discrete maculopapular rash begins when the respiratory symptoms are at its highest and can quickly spread over the face and trunk, appearing bright red (Hay et al., …show more content…
Management is supportive and the infection is usually a mild and self-limiting condition (O’Grady, 2014). Acetaminophen or ibuprofen is effective for treating a fever, and the patient should stay well hydrated with plenty of fluids. A patient with erythema infectiosum is no longer contagious after the rash has appeared, and the patient may pursue activities as tolerated.
Expected