My baby’s cheeks are suddenly intense red. Why is this?
Your baby might have slapped cheek syndrome, a typical youth illness. It’s brought on by a virus called parvovirus B19, and gets its name from the bright red rash that appears on the cheeks. The long name for put cheek syndrome is erythema infectiosum.
It’s also known as fifth disease because it’s the 5th rash in a group of five red-rash diseases that also includes:
- scarlet fever
- measles
- rubella
- roseola
Like other viruses, such as colds and flu, your baby can catch slapped cheek syndrome from an infected individual coughing or sneezing near him.
What are the symptoms of red cheeks in babies?
It takes in between four days and 14 days for symptoms to appear as soon as your baby’s been infected. Slapped cheek syndrome generally starts with a fever and other flu-like symptoms, such as a sore throat, a headache and feeling tired.
Three days to 7 days after these flu-like symptoms embeded in, your baby’s cheeks will redden and appear they’ve in fact been put. A red, lacy rash might appear on your baby’s body and limbs a couple of days later on. The rash may make your baby feel itchy and uneasy.
Nevertheless, some babies will not have all the symptoms of red cheeks in babies. Your baby might feel fine and simply have the red rash on his cheeks. Or he may be a bit off-colour and not have the rash at all, so you might not even understand he has put cheek syndrome.
The rash can often reappear over several weeks if your baby has actually been in the sun or become hot, maybe after having a bath or being active. If this occurs to your baby, it doesn’t imply the infection has come back.
Should I call the doctor?
Slapped cheek syndrome is a mild health problem in children and children. It’s a virus, so it just has to run its course up until your baby’s better. However, you might wish to take your baby to the doctor to confirm that it’s put cheek syndrome.
Your doctor can also provide you some recommendations about treating your baby at home. Sometimes, the rash on your baby’s face and body can remain for up to a month. But this doesn’t suggest your baby still has the health problem.
If your baby’s fever reaches 38 degrees C or greater if he is under 3 months or 39 degrees C or higher if he is under six months, see your doctor. You should also see your doctor if his fever lasts longer than a few days. Your baby may have a various infection.
How can I treat red cheeks in babies?
Your baby’s slapped cheek syndrome will disappear by itself. However there are a few things you can do to ease your baby’s discomfort if he’s not feeling well:
- Make certain your baby gets lots of rest.
- Encourage him to take additional breast or formula feeds. If your baby is formula-fed or on solids he can have extra water, too. This will keep him hydrated and reduce his fever, if he has one.
- Infant paracetamol or infant ibuprofen can also help bring down your baby’s fever. Your baby can have infant paracetamol from two months if he was born after 37 weeks and weighs more than 4kg (9lb). Or you can provide your baby infant ibuprofen if he is 3 months or older, and weighs at least 5kg (11lb). Inspect the dose information on the package, or ask your doctor or pharmacist if you’re not sure about how much to offer your baby.
As soon as your baby has the rash, it’s no longer contagious. If he is feeling better, it’s fine for him to return to nursery.
Can slapped cheek syndrome cause any complications?
For the majority of babies, slapped cheek syndrome is a mild disease. But it can be more major for children with sickle cell disease or thalassaemia.
These disorders cause children to have low levels of red blood cells (anaemia). Slapped cheek syndrome can make these types of anaemia unexpectedly worse. So call your doctor if your baby has one of these disorders, and you believe he has slapped cheek syndrome.
Can I catch put cheek syndrome from my baby?
If you have actually had actually put cheek syndrome previously, it’s not likely that you’ll capture it from your baby. About 60 percent of grownups become immune to put cheek syndrome and other infections triggered by parvovirus B19.
If you do capture it, you might develop stiff and painful joints in your hands, feet, knees and ankles. This joint pain can repeat for a few months later on. You may likewise get the red rash on your cheeks and body, or flu-like symptoms, or both. Or you may not have any symptoms at all and so you won’t understand you have it.
I’m pregnant. Is my unborn baby at risk if I capture it?
The opportunities are that you had put cheek syndrome in childhood. This implies you’re most likely immune to it. However, to be on the safe side, see you doctor straight away if you’ve touched with someone with slapped cheek syndrome. Your doctor can provide you a blood test that will show if you have it now, or if you’ve had it in the past.
The majority of pregnant women who have actually slapped cheek syndrome have healthy children. Nevertheless, there’s a little risk of miscarriage if you have it during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Really hardly ever, put cheek syndrome can likewise cause a condition called hydrops fetalis if you have it in between nine weeks and 20 weeks of pregnancy. Hydrops fetalis is when an uncommon amount of fluid develops in an establishing baby’s tissues and organs.