Posted 6/12/2014 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
Perhaps not as a co-infection, but Fifth's disease is highly contagious and quickly spread among young school age children. It's also called Slapped Cheek disease because children develop the distinctive facial rash. In adults there can be joint involvement, especially in the elbows, wrists and knees as well as rash on the extremeties.
I know because I had it approx. 8 years ago. I would not have known what was going on if I hadn't gotten a notice from the kids' school saying that it was going around. I also developed a rash on my shins and forearms. My son was asymptomatic, our daughter developed the facial rash and I developed the symptoms more specific to adult infections. It took a few months to resolve. I was concerned about the joint pain but after about 6 months I was better. It was very painful for a while.
I would imagine, like with some other viruses, there may be the potential of re-emergence if the immune system is weakened.