Investigation for parvovirus B19 of a pregnant woman with significant exposure to rash illness

Investigation for parvovirus B19 of a pregnant woman with significant exposure to rash illness

The risk of fetal loss appears to be similar in both asymptomatic patients and in women with the parvovirus B19 infection rash (1)

If a pregnant woman has had significant exposure (being in the same room for over 15 minutes, or face-to-face contact) with a person suffering from a non vesicular rash, she should be examined for both asymptomatic rubella and asymptomatic parvovirus B19 infection (4)

• delaying of the examination (to find out if symptomatic infection occurs) should not be done
• serum should be tested for parvovirus B19 specific IgM as well as for IgG o if IgG positive and IgM negative - woman should be reassured that she has had a previous parvovirus B19 infection but not recently
  • if IgG negative and IgM positive - further test should be done immediately
  • if both IgG and IgM are negative - another test should be done one month after last contact,
  • if after one month still IgG and IgM are negative the women should be informed that there is no evidence of recent infection but is susceptible (2)

Reference:

• 1. Health Protection Agency (HPA) 2008. General information on parvovirus: parvovirus B19 (Slapped cheek syndrome, Fifth disease or Erythema infectiosum) - general information
• 2. Morgan-Capner P et al. Guidelines on the management of, and exposure to, rash illness in pregnancy (including consideration of relevant antibody screening programmes in pregnancy). Commun Dis Public Health. 2002;5(1):59-71