My ten-year-old stepson developed a rash on his face over the weekend. 
Today it was worse so, although he was saying that it didn't itch or 
hurt, I dragged him off to see the family doctor. 
  
The doctor took one look and said, "He's got Fifth Disease." I had 
never heard of this, so I asked what it was. I was told that it is a 
new, or maybe just newly-recognized, disease, that affects children 
more than adults. It is caused by a virus. The first symptom is a 
facial rash, which worsens and spreads over much of the body. It looks 
bad, but there is little or no discomfort. After a week or so, the rash 
fades, and that's the end of it. So it is really a pretty trivial 
disease, but it is highly contagious. Right now, it is spreading 
rapidly here in Toronto. The doctor had seen only three previous cases, 
all in the last few days. He is expecting soon to see many more. 
  
The doctor had no idea how the disease got its strange name. 
  
Have any of you, anywhere else, come across this thing? 
  
                               dow 
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