I Plead the 5th!

...the 5th disease that is! Well, I guess strep, stomach bug, fevers, pneumonia, head lice....all made for a boring winter! Yesterday Connor had an upset stomach but only for like an hour, then he was back to normal. But last night, "hey mommy, look at me"....very strange rash, one I had not encountered before! I thought maybe it was a reaction to something, gave some benedryl hoping it would go away. No other symptoms. Then this morning, he looked like one giant rash - they all ran together but only on his arms and legs - no where else. Very strange. They call it 5th disease. Mainly because a long time ago, it was considered one of the 5 rash-producing chidrens diseases along with german measles, scarlet fever, measles and another unknown one they just call 4th disease. Usually comes with a runny nose and fever, which Connor has neither. Once you get the rash, you're not contagious anymore. He was feeling great until running around this evening and getting hot. Read on the internet tonight that exercise and heat reactivates the rash. Great. The good news is he feels good except some itching. Bad news is the rash now covers his face too and could last 1-3 weeks. Apparently Connor has it bad - in the words of the 2 doctors who examined him today "that's one impressive rash!". Who will be next? And yes, adults can get it too!







(p.s. update, Dylan has it now but it is very minor on the legs - whew!