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Dr. Lynn Cates
Specializing in pediatric infectious diseases and childhood immunizations.
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Slapped Cheek
QUESTION
Dear Dr. Cates,
What is slap cheek?

— Srlut85 in Frederick, Md United States

ANSWER
May 10, 2001
Dear Srlut85,
It's amazing how many strange-sounding names there are for children's diseases! "Slapped cheek" is another name for fifth disease, or erythema infectiosum (EI). In otherwise healthy children, it is usually a very mild infection caused by parvovirus B19. The nickname "slapped cheek" came about because it causes children's (and adults') cheeks to look bright red--as if they had been slapped. The nickname "fifth disease" came about because it was the fifth of the common children's diseases that cause rashes to be listed in a numeric classification scheme (measles, scarlet fever, rubella, and a variant of scarlet fever that is no longer recognized are the other four--roseola is number six).

— by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P.

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