- fifth disease
- noun
Etymology: probably translation of French cinquième maladie; so called because it was the fifth of five exanthematous childhood diseases known at the time of its description (1928): an acute eruptive disease especially of children that is caused by a parvovirus (genus Erythrovirus) and is first manifested by a blotchy red rash on the cheeks followed by a maculopapular rash on the extremities and that is usually accompanied by fever and malaise — called also erythema infectiosum
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Pathol. a mild infection, most often seen in children or young adults, caused by a small virus (the human parvovirus B19) and marked by a blotchy rash on the cheeks, arms, and legs.Also called erythema infectiosum.[so called because it was the fifth in a classification scheme of childhood eruptive diseases]* * *
fifth disease,a virus disease of children marked by a reddish rash.╂[< the fact that it is one of five common childhood fevers]
Useful english dictionary. 2012.