Background/aim: Erythema infectiosum (EI) is a common childhood illness, caused by human parvovirus B19. It occurs sporadically or in epidemics and is characterized by mild constitutional symptoms and a blotchy or maculopapular lacy rash on the cheeks (slapped-cheek) spreading primarily to the extremities and trunk. The aim of our study was to analyse the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of erythema infectiosum in children.
Methods: This study included 88 children observed in the Department of Dermatology of the Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina, in Novi Sad, during the period January 2000-December 2009. We compared the data about the clinical characteristics during and after the outbreak of EI observed from December 2001 to September 2002. The data were retrieved from the hospital database.
Results: During the study period, EI was detected in 88 children (44 females and 44 males), 0.213% of the total number of 41,345 children observed in the Department of Dermatology. An outbreak of erythema infectiosum was observed from December 2001 to September 2002, with the peak frequency in April and May 2002 and 39 diagnosed cases, and stable number of cases from 2005 to 2009 (a total of 49 diagnosed cases). The average age of infected children was 7.59 +/- 3.339. Eleven (12.5%) children were referred from primary care pediatricians with the diagnosis of urticaria or rash of allergic origin. The most constant clinical sign was reticular exanthema on the limbs, present in 100% of the cases, followed by 89.77% of cheek erythema. Pruritus was present in 9.09% of the children, mild constitutional symptoms in 5.68% and palpable lymph glands in 3.41% of the children. In all the cases the course of the disease was without complications.
Conclusion: The results of this study confirm the presence of EI (the fifth disease) in our area with a mild course in the majority of patients. Since the diagnosis of EI is usually based on clinical findings, continuing medical education of primary health care pediatricians is essential for reducing the number of misdiagnosed cases.