How Is Fifth Disease Diagnosed?
In most cases, fifth disease is diagnosed based on the appearance of typical symptoms. A blood test can confirm whether you have fifth disease, but this usually is not necessary. If a pregnant woman has been exposed to fifth disease, she may be given a blood test to determine whether she had fifth disease in the past and is, therefore, immune. If she contracts fifth disease, either amniocentesis or a test called percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) can be used to test for the virus in the fetus and to determine the severity of fetal anemia, if it exists. Ultrasound can be used to monitor for complications in the fetus, such as abnormal pooling of fluid around the heart, lungs, or abdomen.
