Parvovirus B19 Frequency in Exanthematic Cases Initialy Suspected as Measles or Rubella Infections in São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Parvovirus B19 infection may be misdiagnosed as measles, rubella, or other exanthematic diseases which are common in childhood. The clinical differential diagnosis for these infections can be misleading due to their similarity in most mild cases and the occurrence of atypical cases. In order to establish the occurrence of parvovirus B19 infection among children with exanthema, paired serum samples from 881 patients with presumptive diagnoses of measles or rubella were tested for IgM and IgG antibodies against parvovirus B19 through the ELISA capture method from 1993 to 1996, after being proved to be not measles or rubella infections. Parvovirus B 19 infection was confirmed in 80 individuals (9%) with IgM positive antibodies, and 240 (27%) with IgG positive antibodies. Sera positive for B19 corresponded to 1% of measles and 96% of rubella suspected cases. Therefore, parvovirus B19 should be considered for serological analysis when a child presents exanthema.