Parvovirus B19 on the Rise Among Children

A respiratory virus called parvovirus B19 is quickly spreading among children, causing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a health alert. A common symptom of the virus in kids is a pink facial rash dubbed “slapped cheek.” According to Zachary Hoy, M.D., a board-certified pediatric infectious disease specialist at Pediatrix® Hospitalist of Nashville, the illness affects children differently because, for many kids, it’s their first time being exposed to the virus. Once a person has been exposed to parvovirus, their body builds up antibodies, which could help prevent or lessen future infections. 

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