Vojnosanitetski pregled 2013 Volume 70, Issue 12, Pages: 1081-1084
https://doi.org/10.2298/VSP110607026P
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Epidemiological and clinical features of erythema infectiosum in children in Novi Sad from 2000 to 2009
Prćić Sonja (Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina, Department of Dermatovenerology, Novi Sad, Serbia)
Gajinov Zorica (Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic of Dermatovenerology Diseases, Novi Sad, Serbia)
Zrnić Bogdan (University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Medicine, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Radulović Anica (Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina, Department of Dermatovenerology, Novi Sad, Serbia)
Matić Milan (Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic of Dermatovenerology Diseases, Novi Sad, Serbia)
Djuran Verica (Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic of Dermatovenerology Diseases, Novi Sad, Serbia)
Background/Aim. Erythema infectiosum (EI) is a common childhood illness,
caused by human parvovirus B19. It occurs sporadically or in epidemics and
is characterized by mild constitutional symptoms and a blotchy or
maculopapular lacy rash on the cheeks (slapped-cheek) spreading primarily to
the extremities and trunk. The aim of our study was to analyse the
epidemiological and clinical characteristics of erythema infectiosum in
children. Methods. This study included 88 children observed in the
Department of Dermatology of the Institute for Child and Youth Health Care
of Vojvodina, in Novi Sad, during the period January 2000-December 2009. We
compared the data about the clinical characteristics during and after the
outbreak of EI observed from December 2001 to September 2002. The data were
retrieved from the hospital database. Results. During the study period, EI
was detected in 88 children (44 females and 44 males), 0.213% of the total
number of 4 1345 children observed in the Department of Dermatology. An
outbreak of erythema infectiosum was observed from December 2001 to
September 2002, with the peak frequency in April and May 2002 and 39
diagnosed cases, and stable number of cases from 2005 to 2009 (a total of 49
diagnosed cases). The average age of infected children was 7.59 ± 3.339.
Eleven (12.5%) children were referred from primary care pediatricians with
the diagnosis of urticaria or rash of allergic origin. The most constant
clinical sign was reticular exanthema on the limbs, present in 100% of the
cases, followed by 89.77% of cheek erythema. Pruritus was present in 9.09%
of the children, mild constitutional symptoms in 5.68% and palpable lymph
glands in 3.41% of the children. In all the cases the course of the disease
was without complications. Conclusion. The results of this study confirm the
presence of EI (the fifth disease) in our area with a mild course in the
majority of patients. Since the diagnosis of EI is usually based on clinical
findings, continuing medical education of primary health care pediatricians
is essential for reducing the number of misdiagnosed cases.
Keywords: erythema infectiosum, child, Serbia, disease outbreaks, drug therapy, prognosis