About Parvovirus B19

Dec. 17, 2025

Parvovirus B19 infection is usually mild in people who are otherwise healthy.
Common symptoms include fever, runny nose, muscle aches, and joint pain.
Patients may experience a "slapped cheek" rash a few weeks after infection, which is more common in children.
Complications can occur in people with underlying blood disorders or a weakened immune system.
Infection early in pregnancy can cause a slight increase in the risk of a miscarriage and blood, heart, or liver problems in your unborn baby.

Image of parvovirus B19 "slapped cheek" rash

Overview

Parvovirus B19 infection usually causes no symptoms or mild illness with flu-like symptoms, rashes, and joint pain. In people with blood disorders or a weakened immune system, infection can cause a low blood count. Infection during pregnancy can sometimes lead to more complications.

Symptoms

Approximately 1 in 4 people who get infected with parvovirus B19 will have no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they are usually mild and may include:

fever

headache

cough, sore throat
runny nose

rashes

joint pain, muscle aches

Rashes

A notable symptom of a parvovirus B19 infection is a red rash on the face, also called a "slapped cheek" rash. This is also known as Fifth Disease (or Erythema Infectiosum). This rash typically appears a few days after the fever or flu-like symptoms. It is more common in children than adults.

Parvovirus B19 infection can also cause a general rash on the chest, back, buttocks, or arms and legs. The rash may be itchy. It usually goes away in 7 to 10 days but can come and go for several weeks. As it starts to go away, it may look lacy.

Joint Pain

Infection from parvovirus B19 can lead to pain and swelling in the joints, called polyarthopathy syndrome. This is more common in adults than children and is most common in women.

Adults may experience joint pain without other symptoms. Affected joints are on both sides, usually in the hands, feet, and knees. The joint pain usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks but can last for months or longer. It usually goes away without any long-term problems.

Keep Reading Preventing Parvovirus B19

Complications

Parvovirus B19 infection is usually mild for children and adults who are otherwise healthy. However, for some people, it can cause serious health complications that affect the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, or blood system.

Parvovirus B19 can cause a severe drop in blood count (anemia) if you have certain blood disorders like sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and hereditary spherocytosis, or a weakened immune system.

You may be at increased risk of complications from a parvovirus B19 infection if you have one or more of these health conditions:

leukemia or other cancers

organ transplant

HIV infection

blood disorders such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia

Parvovirus B19 in pregnancy

If you get a parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy, the virus can spread to your baby. This is not common but could cause a miscarriage and blood, heart, or liver problems in your unborn baby.

Keep Reading Parvovirus B19 in Pregnancy

Diagnosis

In special circumstances, your healthcare provider may test your blood for parvovirus B19 antibodies. The test will show if you are susceptible or possibly immune to parvovirus B19 infection or if you were recently infected.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions about whether you should get tested.

Treatment

Parvovirus B19 infections are usually mild and will go away on their own. Children and adults who are otherwise healthy usually recover completely.

Treatment usually involves relieving symptoms, such as fever, itching, joint pain, and swelling. For people who develop a low blood count, treatment may include supportive care, blood products, and other specialized therapies.

When to see your healthcare provider

It is important to seek care if you are exposed to someone with parvovirus B19 or have signs and symptoms of parvovirus B19 and you:

are pregnant

have a weakened immune system

have ongoing hemolytic blood disorder including:
- sickle cell disease
- thalassemia
- hereditary spherocytosis

Recent data on parvovirus B19 activity in the U.S.

Parvovirus B19 has had more activity in 2024–2025 compared to previous years. Recent articles in CDC’s MMWR journal show how certain groups, at increased risk of infection, have been affected by severe health outcomes.