Discussion Forums > Thalassemia Major
Fifth disease
Sharmin:
Thank you all :hugfriend I am also glad that little A is safe.
We took Andy's advice and decided to not have the sleepover last night. As Andy mentioned, little A has had issues with hemolysis when he has been sick, he has had rituximab etc. so it is probably best to avoid something like this in the first place. We also take comfort in the fact that he has had ivig so we are not too concerned in case he had exposure - because as Andy said he is probably in the clear even if he is exposed. And Zaini, you are right - I should keep an eye on my daughter in case she gets sick from it. Manal and Dore thank you for your support :hugfriend
Andy, the ped told us that Little A will begin his rituximab again within a week even though his hg is good - just to make sure that problems do not take place before we give him the rituximab.
Thanks again all :hugfriend :hugfriend
Sharmin
Sharmin:
Manal,
As I mentioned - you may wish to ask you doctor about fifth disease because our doc said that intermedias can run into trouble with it because it would cause transient aplastic anemia and in that case a transfusion and ivig would be required.
Sharmin
Sharmin:
Andy,
Do you know of other viruses that are particularly risky to patients having anemia - such as fifth disease? Perhaps we can list them so that patients know to avoid them or seek medical advise if they contract them. I did not know of this connection in the past.
Sharmin
Andy Battaglia:
The parvoviruses especially, can pose a threat to thals by causing hemolysis and even minors can have some harsh effects as a result. I learned about this some time ago with someone who contacted me about an unexplained instance of low Hb. Her doctor had mentioned she had a parvovirus and that led me to research the connection between parvoviruses and anemia. I believe the issue eventually resolved on its own (the woman did not seem to believe the connection, but I think her doctor had some inkling that it was involved) but I did learn that parvoviruses are implicated in cases of suuden anemia where origin is not clear and that this should always be checked in patients who already have anemia that has suddenly gotten much worse. In cases where thal minors and non-transfused intermedias have sudden hemoglobin drops, the parvovirus should be investigated as a cause.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3020978
--- Quote ---Human parvovirus and aplastic crisis in chronic hemolytic anemias: a study of 24 observations.
Lefrère JJ, Couroucé AM, Bertrand Y, Girot R, Soulier JP.
From March 1984 through November 1985, 24 children and adults with aplastic crises were admitted in several Parisian hospitals. Twelve patients had known hemolytic anemia. Aplastic crisis revealed hemolytic anemia in the remaining patients. The detection of human parvovirus antigen was performed by counter-immunoelectrophoresis, and specific IgM antibodies were detected by IgM-antibody-capture-radioimmunoassay, in order to establish the incidence of human parvovirus infection in the genesis of the aplastic crisis. Twenty-one patients had acute infection with human parvovirus. In the three remaining patients, no marker of human parvovirus infection was found. The features of the human parvovirus linked aplastic crisis are described. We consider that human parvovirus infection, and unknown hemolytic anemia, must be systematically researched in any case of unexplained acute aplastic anemia.
--- End quote ---
Manal:
Thanks Sharmin, definetly i will and let you know. Luckly i will be at the clinic in half an hour
manal
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