-

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Where Did the Name "Fifth" Disease Come From?

QUESTION: Do you know what the thinking was in giving a number as the name of a disease.
I am referring to "Fifth" disease, a recent addition to my daughter's medical history.
Where did the name come from?

ANSWER: I can see you are a bit confused, but it is easy to straighten out. Normally diseases have names that describe the condition or bear the name of the discoverer.
However, in the case of children's diseases, there are five of them that have similar rashes.
Four received names.
They are German measles, measles, scarlet fever, and roseola (once known as Filatov-Dukes disease or Fourth Disease).
When the fifth childhood rash was discovered it was simply named Fifth Disease (it's also known as Erythema Infectiosum). This disease affects school age children worldwide, infants and adults only being affected infrequently.
Only a low grade fever accompanies the infection, which characteristically produces a rash that gives the child a "slapped-cheek" appearance.
This rash fades after about 11 days, is usually itchy, and becomes worse if the child is bathed in warm water, becomes upset or rubs the skin.
No treatment is required, complications are rare, and this childhood disease is considered to be a very mild one.
Compared to some of the jawbreaking names we give diseases, I think Fifth Disease is a simple one to remember.


The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.