Management guidelines for pregnant women with symptomatic infection have not been formally evaluated. Monitoring of maternal serum for elevated levels of a-fetoprotein may indicate fetal aplastic crisis. A preliminary study has suggested that fetal loss is unlikely if the level stays within normal limits. If the levels are increased, then serial ultrasonography may be useful to detect hydrops fetalis. Exclusion from school or isolation of children with symptomatic erythema infectiosum is not recommended, because the virus is rarely detected in symptomatic patients.
Patients are infectious during the viremia, which occurs a week before the symptoms appear.
In contrast, respiratory isolation precautions are suggested for patients in hospital with aplastic crisis and chronic hemolytic anemia, because the virus is commonly detected during the acute phase of the aplastic crisis. 6 Conclusion Most pregnant women are not at risk for parvovirus infection because of immunity. If maternal infection does occur the outcome will likely be a healthy term infant, although hydrops fetalis and stillbirth may occur. There is no known specific treatment available to prevent fetal infection, and vaccines have not yet been developed. Human parvovirus infection in pregnancy and hydrops fetalis.