A pox upon me!

I have Fifth Disease. One of the kids in the neighborhood had it a few weeks ago. All of the kids play at our house all the time. I can't recall ever having it before. So, there ya' go!

Most children with the virus don't itch with their rash when they have it. I'm an overachiever, however. Okay, not so much. Actually it can be itchier for older kids and adults. My husband had his rash for a week with nary a need to scratch. Not me, baby.

I'm covered in hives. They're hideous. They itch. They itch freaky bad - even with Benadryl, and oatmeal baths, and herbal treatments. I need to duct tape on some oven mitts, like Phoebe and her sailor beau when they had the chicken pox.

Once you have the rash, you are no longer contagious. You have, however, just managed to spread it to the entire world before you even know what you've done. It's a sneaky virus, that way.

It's fun sporting the 'ole slapped cheek look. OH ... and they climbed their way up to just one ear. Yeah, that's right. ONE ear. It is itchy and swollen up and all freaky puffy. The other ear is just fine. Don't be jealous.




Just a minute ... had to scratch ...

Okay, so I have actually incorporated this virus into our schooling. Did you know that Fifth Disease is actually historic? A bunch of doctors in the late nineteenth century classified the six typical rashy itchy infections of childhood. This would be the fifth one. Der. Here's some vocabulary for you: exanthem. An exanthem is a rash that spreads widely over the body, and is sometimes accompanied by fever, body aches and a headache.

The first three in this sixtuplet group were measles, scarlet fever and rubella. The fourth one has yet to ever be identified, and is always simply called, "fourth disease" (which is rather interesting, as some experts argue over whether it ever existed at all). Last on the list (Sixth Disease) is roseola.

Fifth disease is actually called erythema infectiosum. Hmmmm ... wonder why people prefer using the nickname?

It comes from the parvovirus B19. Sounds kinda' like a space shuttle mission. This particular virus doesn't just cause Fifth Disease, but can bring on some other things like joint disease and chronic anemia.

I have a 50% chance that this bout will build up a permanent immunity to it. Of course, again - overachiever. My body may decide that this is just too much fun, and bring on another party in the coming years. Yipee.

Check it out. You saw some disgusting pictures of my body and you learned something. Now, carry on about your day.