Fifth Disease in Adults...anyone had it?

[Ditto2k]

My son got this disease from a friend and I also got it. I am 42 year old male and most adults have had it and never new it. But, it some cases it causes arthritis like symptoms in adults. I had a fever for a few days and then 3 days later my joints began to really hurt. I have researched it and it says it can last months. I am in my 5th week of pain. It seems to have gotten a little better. I guess I am a little shocked because I workout, eat good and am in good shape otherwise.
Could there be an underrlying something that this sickness maybe trying to show me? I have not been to a doctor because it is a wait it out disease(no cure), and my insurance coverage is poor. So why pay to have them tell me what I suspect.
Has anyone else had the adult version of this and what did you do?
Thanks

[kipper]

My sister has been struggling with a bad case of Fifth Disease. When she first got it, her feet swelled up first and then it spread around her body. She has been under the care of an excellent Rhmethoid (sp?) arthritis doctor. I know that every case can be different and she has had an extemely bad case. If it doesn't get better, I wouldn't mess around with it. My sister has been on antibiotics and anti-inflammatory. I know that you can get the viral levels checked. Good luck!

[Ditto2k]

Thanks..fortunately I have not had and swelling or redness in my joints. I did manage to play golf this week but was hurting the next day pretty bad.
Sitting in a hot tub makes it worse, and that is the exact opposite the effect it has on arthritis. I find that to be odd. I guess in time the antibodies will overtake the virus and the aching will go away. I was just wondering if anyone had long term problems. Five weeks is enough of this mess.

[Ditto2k]

I finally went to the doctor. He said fifth disease would not last this long and tested me for everything under the sun only to find out that I am extremely healthy. He said there is no need to test for Fifths because there is no cure why waste the money. A RN friend told me that he doesn't have a clue, that Fifths can last for months.
This is 7 weeks into this and my joints and feet still hurt and it is symmetrical. I am wondering if there is any other adults who have dealt with this, it is terrible. I am wondering if I should go back for an x-ray to make sure this is not permanant damage.
anyone?

[TooYoung4Arthritis]

I have had psoriatic arthritis since 2004; however, my son got Fifth Disease in May of 2008 and in June of 2008 I woke up with my fingers so stiff I could not shut them. This was different than my psoriatic arthritis, so I knew something was up. I went to the doctor and was tested for Fifth Disease. Sure enough, I showed evidence of antibodies and recent infection of Fifth Disease. I think they were parvovirus IgM and IgG tests. It is now September 2008 and not much relief. Rheumatologist doctor prescribed an anti-inflammatory, but not much help. I'm also losing my hair more frequently and have fatigue here and there. I have young children, so life is not too easy. I'm afraid I'm going to have chronic Fifth Disease. Anyone know of possible treatments?

[sapphire62]

Hi! I am sorry to hear about your condition. I am an elementary school teacher who contracted Fifth's about 5 years ago. Two children in my class had it. I was 41 at the time. I knew I had it but it was like no one else believed me! It began on a Friday night. I was off from school a total of 8 days. It was right before Easter so I went in for the Monday, Tuesday, and Wed. prior to Easter vacation. My symptoms were: a butterfly type rash on my face which could mimic Lupus, swelling in my joints all over my body that I could not even move. My hands were so swollen that I could not open and close them. I hate to say this but it hurt to hold a piece of toilet paper to do what I had to do with it!
I went to an "Urgent Care" type setting first. They had no idea what Fifth's was! Then, I went to a family doctor because we had no had one prior. He was beating around the bush with a diagnosis. He NEVER came out and said I had it. He gave me Tamiflu for pain?? I had so much pain I wanted to die! I think the people @ school thought I was on a vacation to the Bahamas! No lie! When one would call me and I would say how sick I was, it was like that "sure you are" attitude. It was horrible! The school nurse thought it was a big joke. Still to this day, she says things like, "Well, you are the ONLY adult I ever knew who had Fifth's Disease!" Can you imagine?????? Of course, she also misdiagnoses broken bones as nothing! I do believe I have been permanently impaired by the disease. I have had joint pain ever since then. When it is damp, whether it is snow or rain, I am in pain! All I can say is, these people who are joking should get it! Let's see how fake it is then!

[Deeg]

My daughter had 5th diease, and I'm pretty sure I have it as well. I'm a 47 old male and it's been 2 weeks of bi-lateral pain in my muscles and joints...so bad it's hard to get out of the bed in the morning. The pain wakes me up everynight. I had a fever of ~100 - ~102 for 4 straight days. My white cell count was LOW when the infection was at it's peak. I have no visible rash, but I do have itchy skin. I just want it to go away. I have not had the titer to check for B19 but I'm sure I have it.

[JFH]

My son got this disease from a friend and I also got it. I am 42 year old male and most adults have had it and never new it. But, it some cases it causes arthritis like symptoms in adults. I had a fever for a few days and then 3 days later my joints began to really hurt. I have researched it and it says it can last months. I am in my 5th week of pain. It seems to have gotten a little better. I guess I am a little shocked because I workout, eat good and am in good shape otherwise.
Could there be an underrlying something that this sickness maybe trying to show me? I have not been to a doctor because it is a wait it out disease(no cure), and my insurance coverage is poor. So why pay to have them tell me what I suspect.
Has anyone else had the adult version of this and what did you do?
Thanks

Hi,

I was diagnosed with the Coxsackie virus, which I was successfully fighting off without even knowing I had it until a Doctor gave me oral steroids for a previous back injury. Unfortunately, steroids hamper your immune system and two days later I was in the hospital with Pericarditis and two days after that horrible burning joint pain. I am also in my fifth week of this thing and finally the pain is starting to get a little better. I am very active and had to drop out of the Chicago marathon due to the combination of my back injury and this horrible virus. Hopefully we both steadily improve from hear. I also heard the "you are very healthy" line. Doesn't really help when you are laying in a hospital bed almost going crazy from the pain.

[JFH]

My son got this disease from a friend and I also got it. I am 42 year old male and most adults have had it and never new it. But, it some cases it causes arthritis like symptoms in adults. I had a fever for a few days and then 3 days later my joints began to really hurt. I have researched it and it says it can last months. I am in my 5th week of pain. It seems to have gotten a little better. I guess I am a little shocked because I workout, eat good and am in good shape otherwise.
Could there be an underrlying something that this sickness maybe trying to show me? I have not been to a doctor because it is a wait it out disease(no cure), and my insurance coverage is poor. So why pay to have them tell me what I suspect.
Has anyone else had the adult version of this and what did you do?
Thanks

I just realized you posted this in May. How are you now?

[Puffy]

I have had Fifth Disease for a year now. I got it in April 2008 a week before my 39th birthday from my son. My son got over his rash in about 2 weeks but here I am a year later still battling the swollen joints. I'm so sorry to see so many people suffering with the same thing that I have but it has also been refreshing to know that I'm not alone with this.
The only thing that has brought me relief has been Prednisone (steriods). I know that these are not good for you but for now it is the only thing that has allowed me to function. I had gotten to the point that my hands would go numb when I would eat or brush my teeth. My hands and arms would go numb while driving because of holding onto the steering wheel. I wore flip flops for months because I could not wear any of my other shoes (fortunately my work is casual dress).
My Rhuematologist tried to put me on Plaquenil (non-steriod anti-inflammatory) and it was working for me but I started to break out in a rash so he took me off of it. He says it is a good drug but a lot of people are allergic to it. I would recommend trying it if you haven't already. It would be preferred over the steriods.
I was doing very well on 5 mg of prednisone every day and was gradually weaning down to 1 mg. I tried to go off of it and after 3 days I was puffing back up in all my joints again. I went back on 5 mg for a week and am now back on 1 mg daily. I'm still very puffy in all my joints but I'm somewhat functional.
My doctor has never seen it last this long and is really at a loss as to what to do. He keeps telling me it will eventually go away. I would like to find some other treatment for the symtoms besides the steriods. I'm open to any suggestions.
Good luck to all of you!!