Which physical findings suggest parvovirus B19 (B19V) infection?

Answer

Parvovirus B19 infection may be indistinguishable from other viral illnesses in the absence of the classic exanthem.

Children are often febrile, but their appearance is nontoxic and the prodrome is nonspecific.
Patients with aplastic crisis have pallor and tachycardia secondary to anemia. Children with aplastic crisis usually do not have a rash.^[9]The absence of rash may result from prolonged viremia and lack of anti–parvovirus B19 IgM. Another hypothesis is that patients in aplastic crisis often receive blood transfusions, and any rash may be attributed to a transfusion reaction.
A friction rub may be audible if pericarditis is present. Benign flow murmurs are common in anemic children with tachycardia. Patients with myocarditis or severe anemia may present with physical findings of heart failure.
The small joints of the hands, feet, elbows, and knees may exhibit signs of arthritis.
Painful pruritic papules and purpura may be present on the hands and feet as part of PPGSS.

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Media Gallery

Note the right side of this boy's face displaying signs of erythema infectiosum, or Fifth disease. Image courtesy of CDC.
Elementary school child with Fifth Disease. Image courtesy of CDC.

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Author

David J Cennimo, MD, FAAP, FACP, AAHIVS Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Adult and Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

David J Cennimo, MD, FAAP, FACP, AAHIVS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of HIV Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, HIV Medicine Association, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Medical Society of New Jersey, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Arry Dieudonne, MD Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonology, Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School; Clinical Director, Francois-Xavier Bagnold Center for Children, University Hospital

Arry Dieudonne, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Joseph Domachowske, MD Professor of Pediatrics, Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, State University of New York Upstate Medical University

Joseph Domachowske, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Received research grant from: Pfizer;GlaxoSmithKline;AstraZeneca;Merck;American Academy of Pediatrics, Novavax, Regeneron, Diassess, Actelion<br/>Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Sanofi Pasteur.

Chief Editor

Russell W Steele, MD Clinical Professor, Tulane University School of Medicine; Staff Physician, Ochsner Clinic Foundation

Russell W Steele, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Louisiana State Medical Society, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Society for Pediatric Research, Southern Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Glenn Fennelly, MD, MPH Director, Division of Infectious Diseases, Lewis M Fraad Department of Pediatrics, Jacobi Medical Center; Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Glenn Fennelly, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous coauthor Dennis Cunningham, MD, to the original writing and development of this article.

Which physical findings suggest parvovirus B19 (B19V) infection?

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