Are there any complications from slapped cheek disease?
Usually not. Rarely, the aching joint symptoms last for some time after the other symptoms have gone. The only times the illness may become more serious are: • In children with some types of hereditary anaemia such as sickle cell disease, beta-thalassaemia and hereditary spherocytosis. This virus can cause these types of anaemia to become suddenly much worse. • In people with a weakened immune system. If you have leukaemia or cancer, have had an organ transplant or have HIV infection then you may develop a more serious illness with this infection. • In pregnant women. Most pregnant women are immune to this virus, or will not be seriously affected if they become infected by it. However, like some other viruses, the virus that causes slapped cheek disease can sometimes harm an unborn child. Miscarriage is more common in women who are infected with this virus before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, if you are pregnant, keep away from people who have slapped cheek disease. If you are preg
