fifth disease

[ fifthdi-zeez ]

noun
  1. Pathology. 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.

Origin of fifth disease

1
So called because it was the fifth in a classification scheme of childhood eruptive diseases
  • Also called er·y·the·ma in·fec·ti·o·sum [er-uh-thee-muhin-fek-shee-oh-suhm] /ˌɛr əˈθi mə ɪnˌfɛk ʃiˈoʊ səm/

Words Nearby fifth disease

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for fifth disease

fifth disease

noun
  1. a mild infectious disease of childhood, caused by a virus, characterized by fever and a red rash spreading from the cheeks to the limbs and trunk: Also called: slapped-cheek disease Technical name: erythema infectiosum

Origin of fifth disease

1
C20: from its being among the five most common childhood infections

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