Parvovirus B19
Hello, all! I don't post much but check in from time to time to see how you are all doing. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers!
My mom is in her 7th cycle of Dacogen with no real improvement. She is getting a transfusion about every month.
We just spent an awful weekend in the hospital because we waited too long to schedule a transfusion. Ended up going by ambulance and then spent 7 hours in the ER before they transferred her to a room...transfusion didn't start for another 4. Then, the attending didn't write discharge paperwork so they were just going to keep overnight. It was going 20 hours and even on the renal floor they didnt bother to dialyze her so we were fed up and left without orders. Argh! So exhausting.
Anyway, while I was with her, I was researching a possible virus that my kids have--fifth's disease. A common childhood virus (parvo b19)that is often characterized by bright red cheeks aka slapped cheek disease. I read that it is ver contagious and can be problematic for anemic adults because it can suppress red blood cell production and cause acute anemia requiring transfusion.
I made a couple inquiries and was told that parvo b19 was more a concern for the immuno-suppressed like organ transplant patients...that mom was likely due for a transfusion (duh, we live this life...i didn't think the virus brought it on)...and that we could watch and wait for cold like symptoms (not worried about the cold symptoms thank you!)
What I was trying to get at, was could my mom have this on top of her condition and that it could further exacerbate her anemia...even chronically as the virus can be hard to shake. My mom lives with us so she is exposed to these childhood viruses frequently and I'm always worried what they could do to her. This was the first time I ever read up on something that actually called out anemia.
I'm not even sure if this is what my kids had, they don't normally even see kids for it because it is so common and will just ride out...but am I being crazy to look into this? Yes, I am a google crazy mother/daughter!
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