fifth disease

[ fifth di-zeez ]
/ ˈfɪfθ dɪˌziz /

noun

Pathology. a mild infection, most often seen in children or young adults, caused by a small virus (the human parvovirus B19) and marked by a blotchy rash on the cheeks, arms, and legs.
Also called er·y·the·ma in·fec·ti·o·sum [er-uh-thee-muh in-fek-shee-oh-suh m] /ˌɛr əˈθi mə ɪnˌfɛk ʃiˈoʊ səm/

Origin of fifth disease

so called because it was the fifth in a classification scheme of childhood eruptive diseases

British Dictionary definitions for erythema infectiosum

fifth disease

noun

a mild infectious disease of childhood, caused by a virus, characterized by fever and a red rash spreading from the cheeks to the limbs and trunk Also called: slapped-cheek disease Technical name: erythema infectiosum

Word Origin for fifth disease

C20: from its being among the five most common childhood infections

Medical definitions for erythema infectiosum (1 of 2)

erythema infectiosum
[ ĭn-fĕk′shē-ōsəm ]

n.

A mild infectious disease occurring mainly in early childhood, marked by a rosy-red maculopapular rash on the cheeks, often spreading to the trunk and limbs. Fever and arthritis may also be present. fifth disease

Medical definitions for erythema infectiosum (2 of 2)

fifth disease

n.

erythema infectiosum