Whats Wrong

While it could be Fifth's if it is just chapped cheeks, I would recommend chap stick or vaseline on her face before bed. I have used this on both my boys because we have gas heat which is very drying and they constantly had the rosy-cheeks in winter.

S.,

She probably has 5th's disease. It is mostly dangerous for pregnant mothers but very normal for kids. It will go away.

This is a very cool website to get answers from:
http://www.babycenter.com/baby/babycare/babyskincare/index

Personally, I think its a rash...use oatmeal to calm it down (good for skin). Take a bit of oatmeal and place it in a bowl of warm water - make it milky-looking, and gently dab onto skin with a very clean, soft, non-perfumy wash cloth. If you have Aveeno lotion, definately use that instead! My daughter used to have that problem occasionally too. Also, use only baby detergent on the laundry and wash-and your shirts, sweaters, etc. My daughter caught a rash because the detergent on my cousin's sweater was too perfumy/strong...he held her only for a moment too-couldn't figure it out. If it gets worse, call the doctor right away and have the children's benadryl ready...don't like to give that to her often, you know, but it can help when there is a problem (wheezing etc) and you are on the way to the doc or whatever....
I hope the site I mentioned helps...good luck!

My son gets the same thing sometimes and we came to the conclusion that it is from his saliva when he sleeps. When he drools and then lays in it he gets very red cheeks almost chapped looking. Our ped recommended putting vasaline on his cheeks right before bedtime to see if that helps. It helped our son immediately! But if not then it could be any of the other things the moms have mentioned. Good Luck!

my son has the same thing when he is teething - not when the teeth are coming through persay but when they are about to come through the gums.

They are probably just chapped. They make chapstick sticks for little ones, they are in the baby aisle at Wal-Mart and Target, places like that, they look like glue sticks.

My son's cheeks used to do that all the time in cold weather, he'd have these big red circles on his cheeks. He was just chapped.

S., this is what I think it may be, Fifths. I went to www.askjeeves.com and got the following information. I hope that it helps. I've been doing daycare for 12+ years and have seen it many time. Fifth disease is actually just a viral illness that most children recover from quickly and without complications. Everything will be okay. K.

KidsHealth > Parents > Infections > Bacterial & Viral Infections > Fifth Disease

Especially common in children between the ages of 5 and 15, fifth disease typically produces a distinctive red rash on the face that makes the child appear to have a slapped cheek. The rash then spreads to the trunk, arms, and legs. Despite being called a "disease," fifth disease is actually just a viral illness that most children recover from quickly and without complications.

Fifth disease (also called erythema infectiosum) is caused by parvovirus B19. A human virus, parvovirus B19 is not the same parvovirus that veterinarians may be concerned about in pets, especially dogs, and it cannot be passed from humans to animals or vice versa.

Studies show that although 40% to 60% of adults worldwide have laboratory evidence of a past parvovirus B19 infection, most of these adults can't remember having had symptoms of fifth disease. This leads medical experts to believe that most people with a B19 infection have either very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.

Fifth disease occurs everywhere in the world. Outbreaks of parvovirus tend to happen in the late winter and early spring, but there may also be sporadic cases of the disease any time throughout the year.

Signs and Symptoms

Fifth disease begins with a low-grade fever, headache, and mild cold-like symptoms (a stuffy or runny nose). These symptoms pass, and the illness seems to be gone until a rash appears a few days later. The bright red rash typically begins on the face. Several days later, the rash spreads and red blotches (usually lighter in color) extend down to the trunk, arms, and legs. The rash usually spares the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. As the centers of the blotches begin to clear, the rash takes on a lacy net-like appearance. Children younger than 10 years of age are most likely to get the rash.

Older children and adults sometimes complain that the rash itches, but most children with a rash caused by fifth disease do not look sick and no longer have fever. It may take 1 to 3 weeks for the rash to completely clear, and during that time it may seem to worsen until it finally fades away entirely.

Certain stimuli (including sunlight, heat, exercise, and stress) may reactivate the rash until it completely fades. Other symptoms that sometimes occur with fifth disease include swollen glands, red eyes, sore throat, diarrhea, and unusual rashes that look like blisters or bruises.

In some cases, especially in adults and older teens, an attack of fifth disease may be followed by joint swelling or pain, often in the hands, wrists, knees, or ankles.

Contagiousness
A person with parvovirus infection is most contagious before the rash appears - either during the incubation period (the time between infection and the onset of symptoms) or during the time when he or she has only mild respiratory symptoms. Because the rash of fifth disease is an immune reaction (a defense response launched by the body against foreign substances like germs) that occurs after the infection has passed, a child is usually not contagious once the rash appears.

Parvovirus B19 spreads easily from person to person in fluids from the nose, mouth, and throat of someone with the infection, especially through large droplets from coughs and sneezes. It can also be spread through shared drinking glasses and utensils.

In households where a child has fifth disease, another family member who hasn't previously had parvovirus B19 has about a 50% chance of also getting the infection. Classmates of children with fifth disease have about a 60% chance of getting the virus. Once someone is infected with parvovirus B19, they develop immunity to it and won't usually become infected again.

Parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy may cause problems for the fetus. Some fetuses may develop severe anemia if the mother is infected while pregnant - especially if the infection occurs during the first half of the pregnancy. In some cases, this anemia is so severe that the fetus doesn't survive. Fortunately, about half of all pregnant women are immune from having had a previous infection with parvovirus. Serious problems occur in less than 5% of women who become infected during pregnancy.

Prevention
There is no vaccine for fifth disease, and no real way to prevent the spread of the virus. Isolating someone with a fifth disease rash won't prevent spread of the infection because the person usually isn't contagious by that time.

Practicing good hygiene, especially frequent hand washing, is always a good idea since it can help prevent the spread of many infections.

Incubation
The incubation period (the time between infection and the onset of symptoms) for fifth disease ranges from 4 to 28 days, with the average being 16 to 17 days.

Duration
The rash of fifth disease usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks. In a few cases in older children and adults, joint swelling and pain because of fifth disease have lasted from a few months up to a few years.

Diagnosis
Doctors can usually diagnose fifth disease by the distinctive rash on the face and body. If a child or adult has no telltale rash but has been sick for a while, a doctor may perform blood tests to see if the illness could be caused by parvovirus B19.

Treatment
Fifth disease is caused by a virus, and it cannot be treated with antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections. Although antiviral medicines do exist, there are currently none available that will treat fifth disease. In most cases, this is such a mild illness that no medicine is necessary.

Usually, children with fifth disease feel fairly well and need little home treatment other than rest. After the fever and mild cold symptoms have passed, there may be little to treat except any discomfort from the rash itself. If your child has itching from the rash of fifth disease, ask the doctor for advice about relieving your child's discomfort. Your child's doctor may also recommend acetaminophen for fever or joint pain.

Complications
The majority of children with fifth disease recover with no complications. By the time the rash appears and while it's present, they usually feel well and are back to their normal activities.

However, some children with weakened immune systems (such as those with AIDS or leukemia) or with certain blood disorders (like sickle cell anemia or hemolytic anemia) may become significantly ill when they have an infection with parvovirus B19. Parvovirus B19 can temporarily slow down or stop the body's production of the oxygen-carrying red blood cells, causing anemia.

When a child is healthy, this slowdown of red blood cell production usually goes unnoticed because it doesn't affect the child's overall health. But children who are already anemic can become very sick if their red blood cell production is further affected by the virus. Their red blood cell levels may drop dangerously low, affecting the supply of oxygen to the body's tissues. They may become very pale and sick-looking, develop a rapid pulse and abnormally fast breathing, have a fever, and be much less active than usual. Blood transfusions and oxygen given in the hospital may be necessary to treat the severe anemia until the child recovers from the parvovirus infection.

When to Call Your Child's Doctor
Call your child's doctor if your child develops a rash, especially if the rash is widespread over the child's body or if it's accompanied by other symptoms.

If you're pregnant and develop a rash or if you've been exposed to someone with fifth disease (or to anyone with an unusual rash), call your obstetrician.

Reviewed by: Stephen C. Eppes, MD
Date reviewed: April 2004
Originally reviewed by: Catherine L. Lamprecht, MD

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Mine did the same thing right before a couple of teeth came through. She is probably teething.

Take her to the doctor and have her checked out. When in doubt, check it out. I had the same situation with my 4 year old when she was a baby...turns out her red cheaks were eczema wich was signaling me that she was about to have trouble with her asthma. One of my boys used to get red cheaks when he was angry. There are many reasons that cheaks can turn red, but it's always best to have the doctor check it out just to be safe. Remember this bit of advice...the only stupid question is the one that you're to embarrassed or afraid to ask, because if you don't ask then you'll never know.

I might be a be wind burn. Just put a little lotion on it. Do not put perfume sented on it though.

My daughter is 18 months and this happens to her occasionally. When she sleeps she drools on her sheets (mostly when she is cutting teeth) and rubs her little cheeks on the sheets making them chapped. I put a very mild lotion on her cheeks when she wakes up and vaseline on them when she goes to bed. Be sure not to use a lotion or ointment that has ingredients that could burn or irritate her extra sensitive skin. Of course if this doesn't clear up in a day or two I would definately check out the Fifths Disease theory the other comments speak of. Better safe than sorry!

I'm not 100% sure. But there is an early childhood disease called 5th disease. The child will look like they have had their checks slapped and will be red. I'm not sure a child who is as young as yours can have it or not. I've seen it in kindergarten children when I worked in the public school. I would call your Dr. and ask them. I do know one of the teachers in the school was expecting when we had children with it and she had to have a shot.

S.,
My son has this issue at times ... my husband & I think he is chapping his cheeks on his sheets and/or blankets while he's sleeping. When he is put to bed, he immediately rolls over on his tummy and sleeps on a side of his face, periodically turning it through the night. It takes a couple of hours, but then fades. Again, just a guess but something I've noticed too!

My 16 month old had the same thing, which turned out to be very dry skin. I just put baby lotion on his cheeks every time I changed his diaper and it cleared up in no time!

if she was out side, she could have a slight sun or wind burn, or it could be a skin condition called roseacea or maybe contact dermatitis. if you recently changed laundry detergents or soap or anything like that it can casue irritation and redness. just soothe on some lotion and it should help. if it doesnt go away in a few days, then you might want to get your ped to check it out.

It could just be an allergic reaction. Check the rest of her body for any rashes/marks that are uncommon. Has she eatten anything new? Also, if there is a fever accompanying it, it may be fifth's disease. In that case, make an appt. with the doctor and don't let her around any other children for now. If there isn't a fever, I highly doubt you have anything to worry about. It could also be as simple as how she lays at night. My daughter will wake up with red hand marks on her face b/c of the way she layed on her hands while sleeping. I would suggest putting some vaseline on her cheeks. If it doesn't go away, I would definetly see the doctor.

Hi S.,
My daughter has the same thing (and I did as a child). We noticed that it was at its worst when her molars started breaking through. I took her to our ped. and she recommended some hydrocortizone cream twice a day. It has gone away and we don't have any problems!
Good luck!!

J.

Sounds like Fifths Disease.

What is "fifth disease?"

Fifth disease is a mild rash illness that occurs most commonly in children. The ill child typically has a "slapped-cheek" rash on the face and a lacy red rash on the trunk and limbs. Occasionally, the rash may itch. An ill child may have a low-grade fever, malaise, or a "cold" a few days before the rash breaks out. The child is usually not very ill, and the rash resolves in 7 to 10 days.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/respiratory/parvo_b19...

Please do not expose her to pregnant women while she is sick.

E.

Has she been out side latly, If so it might be wind burn. MY daughter cheeks were like that the other day. What I did was just use lotion on her face and it went away.

If she runs any fever at all it might be 5ths Disease. The *slapped* cheek look is a common symptom. It's common for kids to get and can be cleared up quickly!

Is she teething at all? Both of my girls get the red cheeks when they cut their back teeth.
Hope everything gets better!