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      | Ruth Forum All-Star
 
  
  
 Joined: Nov 04 2006
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          A friend asked me to babysit her 6 year old daughter and drive her to school this morning, because she had to take her little boy in for a routine MRI. So, on my way to school I was talking to the little girl and she said she missed school yesterday because she had to go to the doctor. I asked why, and she said because she has fifth's disease.
           | Posted: March 05 2008 at 7:47am | IP Logged |   |  
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 Shouldn't her mom had told me this before? She was also coughing A LOT all over the house! When she told me  she went to the doctor, I assumed it was because of the cough. Boy, was I shocked when she told me it was because of fifth's disease! I always ask people if their kids are sick before they come over, but I didn't this time. I am not a happy momma right now.
 
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 Ruth
 
 mom to 7 miracles
 
 My family blog
 
 Loreto Rosaries
 
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| Cindy Mac Forum All-Star
 
  
  
 Joined: April 21 2005
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          Oh Ruth - that's just rude of the mother.  I will be praying that your kids are all going to be o.k.
           | Posted: March 05 2008 at 7:52am | IP Logged |   |  
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 Cindy - wife to Chris, mommy to my 4 sons!
 
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 St. Anne's Academy
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| KC in TX Forum All-Star
 
  
 
 Joined: Aug 05 2005
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          That is really rude.  I don't blame you for being livid.
           | Posted: March 05 2008 at 7:53am | IP Logged |   |  
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 KC,
 wife to Ben (10/94),
 Mama to LB ('98)
 Michaela ('01)
 Emma ('03)
 Jordan ('05)
 And, my 2 angels, Rose ('08) and Mark ('09)
 
 The Cabbage Patch
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| crusermom Forum All-Star
 
  
 
 Joined: Aug 09 2007
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          Maybe the six year old was mistaken and her mom brought to the doctor to make sure she did NOT have Fifth's disease.  Boy, some of my little ones have given out bad information in the past.  I would be livid though if it turns out to be true!  Hope you all stay well.
           | Posted: March 05 2008 at 8:08am | IP Logged |   |  
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 Mary
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| Cay Gibson Forum All-Star
 
  
  
 Joined: July 16 2005
 Location: Louisiana
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          Oh, Ruth, I'll pray.
           | Posted: March 05 2008 at 8:40am | IP Logged |   |  
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 My second son had Fifth's Disease years ago. So did several people we came around out on the soccer field.
  Garrett was the only one in our family who got it...luckily. I found out I was pregnant with Chelsea and had to go repeatedly to the doctor for blood checks. Fifth's is highly contagious and lasts for months (Garrett had symdomes for over 3 months  ). But it is only a serious threat to a pregnant woman in the first 3 months of pregnancy. Surprisingly though, most of us are already immune to Fifth's...which was the case for me in my pregnancy. If you have all been around cats, you're probably safe. 
 Also, I was told that Fifth's is contagious before anyone knows they have it.  After the symdomes come out , they are no longer contagious.
 
 I agree with Mary.  Perhaps the child was taken in to rule out Fifth's disease.  Why else would they be sending her to school?
 
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 Cay Gibson
 "There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
 wife to Mark '86
 mom to 5
 Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
 
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| hylabrook1 Forum Moderator
 
  
 
 Joined: July 09 2006
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          Not to cause more panic about Fifth Disease, but when one of my dc had it in the last month of my pregnancy, the OB told me that it is most dangerous to the baby in the last trimester.  Sounds to me like it is never a good idea for a pregnant momma to be around this!
           | Posted: March 05 2008 at 8:53am | IP Logged |   |  
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 And Ruth -  yes this was incredibly rude and inconsiderate of your friend.  Maybe you could *kind of casually* comment that her daughter had said she had been sick and to the doctor, and you were just wondering whether she had anything contagious.  It is possible that the little girl got the story somewhat confused and there is a simple and reasonable explanation.  I hope there is one!
 
 Peace,
 Nancy
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| mrsgranola Forum Pro
 
  
  
 Joined: Feb 17 2005
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          Not to cause a panic, but Fifth Disease, or parvovirus, is what the semi-official cause of my daughter Hannah's stillbirth. That was ruled the most likely cause...
           | Posted: March 05 2008 at 9:08am | IP Logged |   |  
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 But it's not usually that serious to already born children, from what I understand.
 
 Take care!
 JoAnna
 
 
 
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 Mom to Jacob, Grace, Mary, Lucas, Emma, Carrie and Gianna
 Parente Adventures
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| chicken lady Forum All-Star
 
  
 
 Joined: Feb 27 2005
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          I am sorry Ruth for this persons insensitivity.  I really get upset when people expose us KNOWINGLY to illness.  I have a compromised immune system and I get very ill.  I feel for you, this would make me nutty
           | Posted: March 05 2008 at 9:12am | IP Logged |   |  
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| Matilda Forum All-Star
 
  
  
 Joined: Feb 17 2007
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          For healthy children, it usually presents itself as a mild cold with a red rash on the cheeks. It is also called the slapped cheek disease because of the rash on the cheeks. It is one of those that can linger (like mono) but it shouldn't be a severe illness in healthy children.
           | Posted: March 05 2008 at 9:17am | IP Logged |   |  
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 Dr. Sears says: It is most contagious the day before the rash starts, the day before any fever starts, and for as long as any fever is present. Once the fever is gone for 24 hours your child is no longer contagious, even though the rash will continue for a few days to a few months. If your child does not have a fever, then she is no longer contagious the day after the rash starts.
 
 Did you notice what her cheeks looked liked? If they weren't red and she wasn't running a fever, you are probably going to be fine!
 
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 Charlotte (Matilda)
 Mom to four (11
  , 10  , 9  & 5  ) an even split for now with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
 Waltzing Matilda
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| momwats8 Forum All-Star
 
  
 
 Joined: July 20 2006
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          I get angry about things like that too.  I always tell people if we are sick and give them the choice if they want to be around or not  i will pray for you!!!
           | Posted: March 05 2008 at 9:47am | IP Logged |   |  
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 Mary- Wife to Mike and Mother to Austin(92), Mikey(95), R.J.(97), Benedict(98), Kolbe(00), Ignatius(02), Christian(03), Margaret(05),&4 angels in heaven
 
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| stefoodie Forum Moderator
 
  
  
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          Oh Ruth.  I can't believe how insensitive she is -- hopefully there's been some sort of mistake here.  Praying for all of you.
           | Posted: March 05 2008 at 9:50am | IP Logged |   |  
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 stef
 
 mom to five
 
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| Fuzzy Forum Pro
 
  
  
 Joined: March 07 2007
 Location: Virginia
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          Oh Ruth!  I'm sorry you had this experience.  My family and I were exposed to it when I was newly pregnant with my DD.  I was in the "high risk" doctor's office every week for just about 3 months having sonograms, because I didn't have the immunity.  (On a side note, my very sweet OBGYN doctor informed me of this as soon as he saw me, which happened to be the same day my DS was having surgery.  I wasn't due to see him until the next week, but he was so kind to think of me and let me know the findings and concerns for me.)
           | Posted: March 05 2008 at 1:05pm | IP Logged |   |  
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 It was a very uncomfortable rash/fever combo, and it wasn't too bad on my DS, but mine was just awful.  I hope that the girl was mistaken, and it can be explained away easily!
 
 I will keep you and yours in my prayers.
 
 __________________
 
  Fuzzy Mom to DS 12, DD 10, DS 7, and DS 4, and DD 1!
 Fuzzy Memories
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| Carole N. Forum All-Star
 
  
  
 Joined: Oct 28 2006
 Location: Wales
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          Ruth, praying for you and your family! I remember when I was pregnant with my ds and substituting in the ps, they wanted to know how far along I was since it had been reported by some students in the school.  I had never heard of it before that time.
           | Posted: March 05 2008 at 1:35pm | IP Logged |   |  
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 So sorry that you are going through this experience!
 
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  Carole ... in Wales | 
       
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| Sarah Forum All-Star
 
  
  
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          How maddening. I'd be very mad, too. I'm sorry.
           | Posted: March 05 2008 at 2:19pm | IP Logged |   |  
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 Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
 
 
 
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| Ruth Forum All-Star
 
  
  
 Joined: Nov 04 2006
 Location: Virginia
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          Yes, she did have a rash on her face. As soon as she told me about it, I looked at her and saw the rash. I asked her if the Dr. gave her any medication and she said the doctor told her she didn't need any.
           | Posted: March 06 2008 at 5:49am | IP Logged |   |  
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 My other concern was the heavy coughing. My kids always tend to get any respiratory illnes that's going around. I guess they're prone to that.
 
 4 Years ago, my 9ds was invited to a friend's house to play, when I picked him up, they little boy was coughing pretty bad. Two weeks later out little one had the same cough. It turns out, the little boy had whooping cough. His mom told me to take him in for testing and pretty soon, the rest of our kids got it, including our then 1 year old. They were sick for 4 months. Ever since then I've been very paranoid about exposing the kids. But I know you can't always control it.
 
 I guess I was caught off guard and needed to vent.
   
 I'm usually away from the computer on Wednesdays, except a little bit in the mornings, so I'm just now getting a chance to respond. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.
 
 __________________
 Ruth
 
 mom to 7 miracles
 
 My family blog
 
 Loreto Rosaries
 
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| CrunchyMom Forum Moderator
 
  
  
 Joined: Sept 03 2007
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          Well, I was afraid my 3.5 year old had it a few weeks ago (turns out he was just really flushed from the fever), and I called the doctors office (I'm expecting and was only around 10 weeks at the time). I got the impression that they are most contagious before the rash appears, but not so much once it appears. So, it could have been that the doctor told the mom she wasn't contagious anymore--or at least left her with that impression?
           | Posted: March 06 2008 at 7:02am | IP Logged |   |  
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 Lindsay
 Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
 My Symphony
 
 [URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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