There is no specific medicine to combat the virus that causes erythema infectiosum, also popularly known as slap disease, and, therefore, the treatment plan aims to alleviate symptoms such as redness in the cheeks, fever and malaise, until the body can eliminate the virus.
Thus, treatment, which must be prescribed by a pediatrician or dermatologist, generally involves rest and intake of:
- Antihistaminesto reduce redness of the cheeks and other parts of the body such as back, arms, torso, thighs and buttocks;
- Antipyretic medicinesto control fever;
- Analgesics to relieve pain and general discomfort.
Red spots on the cheek usually appear between 2 and 7 days after contact with the virus, o parvovirus B19, and generally regress in 1 to 4 days until they disappear, and the period of greatest risk of contagion of the disease is before the spots appear.
When the reddish spots appear on the skin, there is no longer a risk of transmitting the disease, but it is advisable to stay at home for the first 3 days after symptoms such as malaise and fever appear. Even if the spots on your skin have not yet completely disappeared, it is now advisable to return to daycare, school or work.
Check out the symptoms that can help identify a case of erythema infectiosum.
What care should be taken during treatment
Since this disease is more common in children, it is very important that, in addition to following the treatment recommended by your doctor, you maintain adequate hydration, as fever can cause water loss.
Therefore, it is recommended to regularly offer water, coconut water or natural juices to the child, in order to maintain adequate water levels.
Furthermore, as it is a contagious disease, which can be transmitted through saliva and lung secretions, it is important:
- Wash your hands regularly;
- Avoid sneezing or coughing without covering your mouth;
- Avoid sharing objects that come into contact with your mouth.
After the spots appear on the skin, the risk of contagion is much lower, however, these types of measures must be maintained to ensure that there is no transmission.
Signs of improvement
Signs of improvement in this infection appear approximately 3 to 4 days after the appearance of the spots and include a decrease in fever, disappearance of the red spots and greater disposition.
Signs of worsening
There is generally no worsening of the condition, as the virus is eliminated by the body, however, if a very high fever occurs, above 39ºC or if the child remains very still, it is important to go back to the doctor to re-evaluate the case.
