Slapped Cheek Disease (Fifth Disease) in Grand Rapids, MI

Slapped cheek disease, also known as fifth disease, slapped cheek syndrome, or erythema infectiosum, is a common viral infection in children in Grand Rapids and across Michigan. It is caused by human parvovirus B19 and most often affects primary-school-aged children (5–15 years).

The illness gets its name from the bright red rash on the cheeks, which can look like the child has been slapped.

How Slapped Cheek Disease Spreads

Slapped cheek disease spreads easily in schools, daycares, and households throughout the Grand Rapids area, especially in late winter and spring when respiratory viruses are more common.

The virus is spread by:

  • Respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing
  • Mucus or saliva on hands, tissues, or shared objects
  • Close contact in classrooms, childcare centers, and at home

Key points about infection:

  • Incubation period: usually 4–14 days after contact (up to 21 days in rare cases)
  • People are most contagious before the rash appears, when they only have mild cold-like symptoms
  • Once the bright red rash appears, the person is usually no longer contagious

Parvovirus B19 only infects humans and is different from the parvoviruses that affect dogs and cats.

Who Is Most at Risk in Grand Rapids?

While anyone can catch slapped cheek disease, certain groups in the Grand Rapids community are more likely to be exposed or to have complications:

  • Children aged 5–15 years (especially in elementary schools in Kent County)
  • Adults who work with children, such as:
    • Teachers and school staff (Grand Rapids Public Schools, private and charter schools)
    • Childcare workers and daycare staff
    • Pediatric healthcare workers at facilities like Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health

Over half of all adults are already immune because they had the infection in childhood, even if they do not remember being sick.

Symptoms of Slapped Cheek Disease

For most children in Grand Rapids, slapped cheek disease is a mild illness that starts out looking like a common cold.

Early Symptoms (Before the Rash)

These symptoms usually appear about a week before the rash:

  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Coughing
  • Mild fever
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Feeling tired or “run down”
  • Mild aching muscles

During this stage, the child is contagious, and it can be difficult to tell that it is parvovirus B19 and not just another respiratory virus, which are common in Michigan’s colder months.

Rash on the Face and Body

As the cold-like symptoms start to improve, the classic rash appears:

  • Bright red cheeks that look like they have been slapped
  • A “lacy” pink or red rash may then appear on:
    • Arms
    • Legs
    • Torso

Additional features:

  • The rash can be itchy, especially on the body
  • It may come and go for 1–3 weeks
  • It often becomes more noticeable with:
    • Exercise (sports, running around at recess)
    • Hot baths or showers
    • Sunlight and warmer weather, including humid summer days in West Michigan

Once the rash is present, the person is usually no longer contagious.

Symptoms in Teenagers and Adults

Up to 20% of people with parvovirus B19 infection have no symptoms at all.

In teenagers and adults, especially women, the infection can cause:

  • Joint pain and swelling, often in:
    • Hands
    • Wrists
    • Knees
    • Ankles

These arthritis-like symptoms:

  • May be the only sign of infection in adults
  • Usually improve within 2–4 weeks
  • Can occasionally last for months, but
  • Do not cause permanent joint damage (unlike true arthritis)

How Long Does Slapped Cheek Disease Last?

  • Cold-like symptoms: a few days
  • Facial and body rash: usually 1–3 weeks
  • Joint symptoms in adults: 2–4 weeks, sometimes longer

Most children and healthy adults in Grand Rapids recover fully without complications.

Treatment for Slapped Cheek Disease

Most people with slapped cheek disease in Grand Rapids do not need special treatment.

At-Home Care

For children and adults:

  • Rest and plenty of fluids
  • Pain- and fever-relieving medication, such as:
    • Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
    • Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)

Always follow dosing instructions and consult a healthcare professional before giving medicine to children.

When to See a Doctor in Grand Rapids

Contact your primary care provider or pediatrician (for example, at Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health) if:

  • Your child has a high or persistent fever
  • The rash is severe, very itchy, or spreading rapidly
  • Your child seems very unwell, unusually tired, or short of breath
  • You are pregnant and think you have been exposed
  • You or your child has a weakened immune system or a blood disorder (see below)

The Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health can also provide information on managing viral illnesses in schools and childcare settings.

Slapped Cheek Disease and Pregnancy

Risk to Pregnant Women in Michigan

In Michigan, it is estimated that:

  • About 60% of women aged 20–39 have already had parvovirus B19 before pregnancy and are immune
  • Each year, 1.5–15% of women of child-bearing age may contract the infection

Most unborn babies are not affected, even when the mother is infected.

Risk to the Unborn Baby

If a pregnant woman becomes infected with parvovirus B19:

  • Only about one-third of babies will become infected
  • Infection in the baby usually occurs about a month after the mother’s illness
  • Most babies do well, but there are some risks, especially if infection occurs in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, including:
    • A type of anemia (low red blood cell count) in the baby
    • In some cases, this anemia resolves on its own
    • In about 5% of affected cases, treatment may be needed
    • Very rarely, infection can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth

Importantly, parvovirus B19 infection does not cause birth defects (it is not linked to structural abnormalities in the baby).

What Pregnant Women in Grand Rapids Should Do

If you are pregnant and:

  • Have a rash,
  • Have flu-like or cold-like symptoms, or
  • Know you have been in close contact with someone who has slapped cheek disease (for example, your child or a student),

you should:

  1. Contact the doctor or midwife supervising your pregnancy (OB/GYN or midwife at Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health, or another local provider), even if you feel well.
  2. They may:
    • Order a blood test to check if you are immune or recently infected
    • Arrange ultrasound monitoring of your baby’s growth and wellbeing if needed

Early assessment and monitoring can help manage any potential complications.

Weakened Immunity and Slapped Cheek Disease

People in Grand Rapids with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of more serious illness from parvovirus B19. This includes:

  • People being treated for cancer
  • Those on long-term steroid or immunosuppressive therapy (for severe asthma, autoimmune conditions, organ transplant, etc.)
  • People living with HIV/AIDS

In these cases, parvovirus B19 can cause:

  • Chronic and severe anemia, because the virus affects the bone marrow cells that make red blood cells

These patients may need:

  • Careful monitoring by their hematologist or specialist
  • Red blood cell transfusions in severe cases

Care is usually coordinated through major hospitals in Grand Rapids, such as Corewell Health and Trinity Health Grand Rapids.

Hemolytic Blood Disorders and Slapped Cheek Disease

People with hemolytic (blood-destroying) disorders are especially vulnerable to complications from slapped cheek disease, including:

  • Sickle cell anemia
  • Thalassemia
  • Hereditary spherocytosis
  • Other chronic hemolytic anemias

In these conditions, red blood cells are already being broken down faster than normal. Parvovirus B19 can:

  • Cause a sudden drop in hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in the blood
  • Trigger an aplastic crisis, where the body temporarily stops making enough red blood cells

This can lead to:

  • Severe tiredness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pale skin
  • In severe cases, heart failure if not treated promptly

Treatment may include:

  • Hospital care at a Grand Rapids facility (e.g., Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids)
  • Red blood cell transfusions to restore a safe hemoglobin level

Anyone with a known blood disorder who develops symptoms of slapped cheek disease should seek urgent medical advice.

Protecting Your Family and Community in Grand Rapids

While there is no vaccine for parvovirus B19, you can reduce spread in homes, schools, and workplaces by:

  • Encouraging frequent handwashing
  • Teaching children to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow
  • Disposing of tissues promptly and washing hands afterward
  • Keeping children with fever or feeling unwell home from school or daycare, especially during the early “cold-like” stage
  • Cleaning commonly touched surfaces (doorknobs, toys, desks) regularly

Because people are contagious before the rash appears, it is often difficult to prevent spread completely, especially in schools and childcare settings in Kent County.

When to Get Help in Grand Rapids, MI

If you are concerned about slapped cheek disease, contact:

  • Your GP or pediatrician
  • Urgent care clinics in Grand Rapids (for after-hours or weekend concerns)
  • Hospital emergency departments (Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health) for severe symptoms

For public health information and guidance, you can also reach out to:

  • Kent County Health Department
  • Grand Rapids Public Health

Key Points About Slapped Cheek Disease in Grand Rapids

  • Slapped cheek disease (fifth disease) is a common viral infection in children caused by parvovirus B19.
  • It causes a bright red rash on the cheeks, often followed by a lacy rash on the arms, legs, and torso.
  • Early symptoms often look like a mild cold: runny nose, cough, low-grade fever, tiredness, and headache.
  • Most people need little or no treatment and recover fully with rest and simple symptom relief.
  • People are most contagious before the rash appears; once the rash shows, they are usually no longer infectious.
  • The infection can be more serious for:
    • Pregnant women (due to potential risk to the unborn baby)
    • People with weakened immune systems
    • Those with hemolytic blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia
  • Pregnant women and people with underlying health conditions in Grand Rapids should seek medical advice promptly if they think they have been exposed to parvovirus B19.