{"id":5371,"date":"2019-04-05T06:36:25","date_gmt":"2019-04-05T06:36:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=5371"},"modified":"2021-05-04T13:45:28","modified_gmt":"2021-05-04T13:45:28","slug":"14-early-signs-of-parvovirus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-early-signs-of-parvovirus\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Early Signs Of Parvovirus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Parvovirus is a common virus that affects people. Most people experience it as a child, and it can lead to the fifth disease. Every person reacts to the virus differently, but there are some symptoms that are more common than others. As with most viruses, fevers, joint pain, and a headache are often present.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the parvovirus symptoms mimic the symptoms of many other illnesses, doctors have to conduct tests to confirm a diagnosis. There is no specific treatment for parvovirus, and it must run its course until the immune system can kill it or until it simply dies on its own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors often recommend that patients get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration during the illness. The symptoms of the disease can be treated individually to help make the patient more comfortable. Symptoms usually only last a few days and start off mild. Parvovirus is contagious and can be spread through respiratory fluid and blood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Rash<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A rash <\/a>is common with most cases of the fifth disease. It may itch, but usually just causes mild pain. The rash is usually not raised but appears as red flecks on the skin. Scratching may cause it to become more painful, and can even lead to lesions and infection. Rashes are common with many types of viruses and infections and are a natural reaction to outside toxins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some other common illnesses that often include a rash as a symptom include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, mumps, and the common cold. Since so many other illnesses can cause a rash, doctors cannot consider these symptoms a determining factor in whether or not a person has the parvovirus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A blood test and an examination of other symptoms can help doctors read a diagnosis. The rash usually disappears once the patient begins treatment or once the illness resides. There is no specific treatment for the rash, other than topical creams that can help stop the pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Headache<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the first symptoms that most people experience when they are suffering from a parvovirus infection is a headache. Headaches <\/a>are common with many types of illnesses and infections. They are also caused by fatigue, dehydration, stress, injuries, and neck and back pain. Since there are so many things that can cause a headache and most of those things aren\u2019t serious, many people do not assume they are sick with a headache is the only symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They may treat the headache with over-the-counter medication and plenty of rest. It is not until other symptoms appear that a person realizes there may be an underlying cause of the headache, and seeks medical attention. Headaches caused by a parvovirus infection are treated the same way as headaches caused by other illnesses. Stronger pain relievers may be prescribed if necessary. Once the virus leaves the body, the headache should subside pretty quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Fever<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fevers are another early sign of parvovirus<\/a>. A fever is the body\u2019s natural reaction to an outside invader and is common with most types of viruses and infections. When the body realizes there is something attacking the body, it attempts to reset the system by raising the temperature of the body. \u00a0Body temperature is regulated by a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hypothalamus is what causes the fever. Fevers can be treated with fever-reducing medication, plenty of liquids, and rest. The fever my go away for a few hours and return until treated again. Sometimes fevers are only present in the early stages of the parvovirus and can go away within a few hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other times, they can be hard to control and require medication every few hours to keep the sufferer comfortable and avoid further complications. If a fever gets too high, it can be dangerous. Once the infection leaves the body, the fever should go away too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Sore Throat<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most people notice a sore throat<\/a> in the early stages of parvovirus infection. The sore throat may be mild or severe and can come on gradually or quickly. \u00a0Any part of the throat may hurt, but the tonsils are usually the first place people notice the pain. The tonsils and throat become swollen and red. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blisters can appear in the throat, tongue, and mouth. Kids are more likely to develop a sore throat than adults. A sore throat is not always a telltale sign of parvovirus infection, as it is a symptom of many other illnesses as well, including strep throat, flu, and mono. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A doctor may take a throat culture and do a blood test to determine the cause of the sore throat and make a diagnosis of parvovirus.  A sore throat can be treated with warm liquids, pain relievers, cough drops, and throat sprays. It\u2019s also important for anyone with a sore throat to avoid yelling or straining the throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Itchy Skin<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some people develop itchy skin prior to other symptoms of parvovirus. This can occur with or without a rash, and the itching can be mild or severe. Many people are confused by this symptom because they appear to be itching for no reason. The body had many ways of reacting to viruses and itching seems to be one of those ways. Pain is also common and can accompany the itching. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scratch can actually make the sensation worse and doesn\u2019t do anything to soothe it. Itchiness is a sensation that medical science does not fully understand and its connection to parvovirus and other illnesses is not clear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s common with many other diseases and infections, including parasites<\/a>, rashes, bug bites, and skin infections. The itchiness doesn\u2019t usually last long but can be an aggravating symptom. Lotions and creams may help soothe the skin and prevent the itch. Doctors may also proscribe steroids and antihistamines to treat it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Runny Nose<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A runny nose is another symptom that many people notice when they become infected with the parvovirus. It may start as a postnasal drip and can turn into a runny nose or even turn into congestion<\/a>. The tissue inside the nose becomes inflamed as the body attempts to fight off the virus. When this happens, the mucus in the nose becomes thinner and either leave the nose quickly in the form of a nasal drip or can\u2019t drain properly and caused congestion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many illnesses that can cause this symptom including the flu, allergies, the common cold, and sinus infections. While this is usually a mild symptom, it can be a frustrating one to deal with and can even make breathing, sleeping, and eating difficult. Over the counter medications may help treat the inflammation in the nose and reduce the symptoms. Sitting in a steamy bathroom can help with congestion. Nasal sprays are another option that can help open up the nose and allow the fluids inside to drain properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Abdominal Pain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For many people, abdominal pain is one of the first things they notice when they become ill with parvovirus. They may not realize the pain is connected to any specific illness and assume it is related to something they ate, difficult bowel movements, or just indigestion<\/a>. Pain relievers can help with abdominal pain, but may not relieve it completely. It may go away for a while and return. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abdominal pain is common with many other viruses and illnesses, including stomach viruses, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, and upset stomach. Rest and heating pads may also help relieve the pain. Abdominal pain usually only lasts for a few hours, but it may return during the course of the infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it becomes severe or if over-the-counter medications do not relieve the pain, the sufferer may need to seek medical attention.  Doctors will do a variety of tests to confirm the pain is connected to the parvovirus and not another issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Joint Pain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Joint pain<\/a> is an early symptom of parvovirus and is more common in adults than in children. The fingers, knees, hips, and ankles are some of the areas where people often experience the most severe pain. \u00a0As the body reacts to the parvovirus, the joints become inflamed and painful. It can also be hard to move and bend the body in these areas. Pain relievers can help reduce pain and swelling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They may need to be taken every few hours until the symptom subsides. It is not uncommon for joint pain to return several times during the infection and until the virus is no longer present in the body. Joint pain is common with many illnesses and is not enough to tell doctors that a patient is suffering from parvovirus. Blood tests are often conducted to determine the cause of the pain. Many people experience joint pain for several days after other symptoms subside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Chills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the brain detects the presence of parvovirus in the body, it calls for the immune system to turn up the heat and start the onset of a fever. A fever is the body\u2019s natural defense against infection<\/a>, and in most cases \u2013 it\u2019s effective at clearing the virus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fever begins when the hypothalamus signals for the creation of pyrogen proteins. These pyrogens attach to the ends of nerves in the lower back, forcing the nervous system to increase the body\u2019s base temperature. The more pyrogens that are circulating in the bloodstream, the higher the temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, it takes a while for the body to catch up to the new temperature setpoint. During this lag period, the patient may notice that they start to feel cold and shivers, even though they are dealing with a fever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chills subside as the body reaches the new setpoint, and the symptoms of fever take over until the virus clears.
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10. Weak Immune Function<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Under most circumstances, the immune system can fight off many different viruses, bacteria, and fungus from infecting the body. However, some people may have a compromised immune system<\/a> due to physiological problems or infection with an autoimmune disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People living with this condition are at a higher risk of contracting parvovirus infection. Children are the largest risk group for disease because they are yet to develop the full functionality and protective qualities of their immune system. As a result, they tend to experience infection more often with preventable diseases such as parvo and conjunctivitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a child that attends nursery school, make sure that they receive all of their vaccinations to prevent infection with preventable diseases like parvovirus. A new trend is emerging where parents feel that vaccines may cause health issues in their kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, research into the topic suggests that vaccines are a viable way of preventing infection while increasing the immune defense of kids and adults.
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11. Fatigue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the immune system ramps up activity in producing antibodies and white blood cells to combat the virus, the patient may start to feel tired and fatigued. It takes a significant amount of energy to fight viral or bacterial infections, and the immune system goes into overdrive to bring the body back to health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The immune system requires ATP energy to maintain its attack against the invading pathogen<\/a>. However, many patients find that they don\u2019t feel like eating when they\u2019re sick, so the body has to deal with its existing energy reserves to ward off the infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People with Parvovirus infection should start eating as soon as they can and remember to stay hydrated to avoid mineral imbalances and the other adverse health effects of dehydration. The feelings of fatigue will begin to dissipate as the virus starts to clear, and the patient should make a full recovery back to health and normal levels of energy.
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12. Pressure Behind the Eyes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People infected with parvovirus may find that they start to develop a feeling of pressure behind the eyes. This symptom typically starts to occur after the patient begins to develop a fever. The increase in pyrogenic activity increases levels of systemic inflammation <\/a>in the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should the systemic inflammation reach the network of nerves running from the brain stem through the face and the chest, they may start to notice intra-cranial pressure building in their head. In most cases, this increase of pressure starts the onset of a headache, and most people find the initial stages of these symptoms to be a feeling of pressure behind the eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors may treat these symptoms using OTC anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers if necessary. However, the headache and pressure behind the eyes will start to dissipate as the infection clears and the patient returns to normal health. There is no lasting damage to the nervous system or the brain form this inflammation.
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13. Parvovirus and Anemia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anemia <\/a>describes a condition affecting red blood cells where they can no longer carry enough oxygen throughout the body. This condition occurs due to low hemoglobin production that helps the red blood cells absorb oxygen. People with anemia find that they tire more quickly than others, and they also may have an iron deficiency that\u2019s causing the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pregnant women with anemia are at a high risk of miscarriage, and this risk increases should they contract parvovirus. The red blood cells are used up by the body quicker than the bone marrow can replace them in the body, leading to severe symptoms of anemia that may become life-threatening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The parvovirus can affect red blood cell production in the developing fetus, resulting in congenital disabilities or miscarriage. The risk is highest for the fetus in the first trimester of the pregnancy and requires immediate medical attention to ensure no further complications occur with the pregnancy.
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14. No Symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The majority of adults experiencing e a parvovirus infection exhibit no symptoms. These individuals become \u201ccarriers\u201d of the disease, passing it on to other people unaware of their infection. When symptoms do eventually appear, the intensity and duration of the effects of the disease on the body may vary widely depending on the state of the health of the immune system and the person\u2019s age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almost half of all American adults are immune to parvovirus infection due to a previously unnoticed infection with the virus that may have happened in early childhood or during adolescence<\/a>. As a result, when their kids bring the virus home from nursery school, the adults are immune from infection and don\u2019t have to worry about contracting the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the affected person receives parvovirus infection, they will be immune to the disease for the rest of their life. Most people can recover from parvovirus infection without medical intervention and OTC medications to manage the symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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