title: Acute polyarthritis. Fifth disease passed from child to adult.
abstract: Physicians are familiar with the "slapped cheek" rash seen in childhood cases of erythema infectiosum. Less well known is that infection with its pathogen, parvovirus B19, often becomes manifest in adults as acute viral arthropathy. In evaluation of suspected cases, a complete blood cell count and blood chemistry profile are useful additions to thorough history taking and physical examination. Differential diagnosis includes Lyme disease, other viral infections, acute rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and psoriatic arthritis. Treatment is symptomatic with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McMurray
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001510:Bed Rest; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016731:Erythema Infectiosum / Q000150:complications* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D010808:Physical Examination; D012459:Salicylates / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012459:Salicylates; C014182:salicylsalicylic acid