Symptoms Of Fifth Disease

A Sore Throat

A classic symptom of fifth disease, a sore throat is a common sign that a patient is battling an internal virus that may bring common cold and flu symptoms along with it. A sore throat is described as pain, scratchiness or irritation of the throat that often feels worse whenever an individual swallows, with the most common cause being a viral infection, such as a cold, flu, or fifth disease. Most often, a sore throat due to fifth disease will clear up on its own in a few days, therefore, patients do not need to worry compared to the persistent rash that appears due to fifth disease. A few remedies that can help alleviate the pain a child or adult may be experiencing with a sore throat include gargling salt water, drinking warm liquids that coat the throat, cooling the throat down with frozen treats, eating throat lozenges, and resting the vocal cords.

Swollen Glands

Considering fifth disease often inhabits the nose, mouth, and throat of an infected person, it is no surprise that a child or adult may experience swollen glands when they have the parvovirus B19. As part of the lymphatic system, the lymph nodes help the body filter fluids into itself and return the fluids to the circulation system for disposal. Lymph nodes also contain infection-fighting cells and white blood cells in these pea-sized lumps of tissue. These glands tend to swell a few centimeters or more when they are responding to an infection or disease, such as fifth disease, and these swollen glands can be found under the chin, neck, armpits or groin and will feel like a soft, round lump underneath the skin.