No, not the kind that dogs get. Who knew that there is a Human Parvo virus? I sure didn’t.

Long story short, although this virus usually affects children as a mild flu-like infection with a rash, it can cause the sort of problems that I’ve been having for the past several months in some adults. When the infection becomes chronic, or there is an aberrant reaction to it, symptoms can manifest as everything from neurological to arthritic problems; as well as cardiovascular ones (stroke).

Naturally I’ve been doing my own research on it since getting back from my doc, and have come up with these as the most informative. The case cited in the second link really rings a bell with what I’ve been experiencing.

Neurologic Manifestations Associated with Parvovirus B19 Infection: Oxford Medical Journal – Infectious Diseases
http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/48/12/1713.full

A Case of Persistent Parvovirus B19 Infection with Bilateral Cartilaginous and Ligamentous Damage to the Wrists
http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/41/4/42.full

My PCP is checking with my neuro regarding using IVIG as a treatment. If that is a go, it will likely set me back pretty hard financially because our government health care plan probably won’t cover it. Cost is $2000- 4000/infusion, but that treatment is only possible if our Blood Services approves use of it in my case.

My doc would have to apply for it to be used, and he says that I’d need at least two infusions. He also said that even with the IVIG, there is the potential that this joint & neuropathy (if that is being caused by the virus), could remain progressive or become chronic.

The alternative treatments are symptom control through continuing with Ibuprofen or biting the bullet and trying prednisone or some other heavy hitting drug, none of which agree with this body of mine. Symptom control is not a long term solution; but the hope would be that the body will kick the infection on its own, given time.

My doc is contacting the neuro to see what he thinks and will also be getting hold of a rheumatologist to get their opinion. Until they all have a chat, I’m in waiting mode...but at least there is some sort of a cause of all of these symptoms, to go after now.

My poor brain is working in over drive as I try to figure out how to deal with the financial end of things, while anticipating the potential benefits of IVIG. How I will deal with it if the application for it is denied has also been on my mind, especially since some of the more recent "MS symptoms" might actually be due to this virus or a reaction to it.

I sure would rather be sitting on a beach in Mexico instead of being cooped up in the house thinking about this stuff, while waiting to hear back from my doc. He said that it might take until next week before he gets back to me.

With love, Erika

Well now we know what has been going on w your joints. Is that also what has caused your GI system woes?

If you can't get the IVIG in Canada could you get it from some Rheumy or other specialist in the US?

I'm off to read your links. I appreciate you sharing this w us, Erika. I wish you the best treatment in the most reasonable amount of time.

Chocolate for you,
ANN

oh my gosh, that's awful. how did they dx this in you?
could you get any $$$ help from the drug comp?

I suppose that I could get it in the US but the cost would probably be greater than what it is here; especially when factoring the travel, accommodation, specialist cost, hospitalization, procedure costs. I only have the government medical insurance here because the private ones refused me extended coverage since the 80's. Once refused, always refused in the insurance business.

the diagnosis came about after I had a mini stroke a couple of weeks back. The doc spotted skin irritation over my wrists and on my elbows and thought that it looked more like a rash than a reaction to the Diclofenac cream that I've been putting on those joints for inflammation control. He thought that it looked like some sort of an infection.

he ordered a repeat on some blood work and it suggested that I had some sort of an infection, so he then ordered blood tests for a bunch of things like systemic fungus & hepatitis, but also included viruses...everything from Lyme's to Parvo. The Parvo came back positive.

Those results came in a couple of days ago, so his office called me and said that my doc wanted some more blood work done. I had that done yesterday and those results came in today showing high white blood cell counts and high platelets; so the blood work is still indicating an infection. At least the immune system is trying to deal with it.

Problem is, that it may be going about it incorrectly (aberrant immune reaction), which is affecting the joints and possibly neurological and cardio-vascular systems as well.

Figures. Sometimes I wish this body would just catch a normal cold or something once in while instead of doing this sort of a freak show seemingly every time an otherwise common virus comes along.

With love, Erika

How do you "catch" Parvo?

It is spread just like the common cold; by droplet, or by direct contact with an infected surface. I'm really careful about hand washing and things like that but I suppose I must have slipped up somewhere along the line. Probably some patient's kid had it and they brought the virus into the clinic when I was still working. It is also possible that I may have been working with a patient who had developed joint problems because of it.

I asked my doc if I was contagious now and he said he didn't think so, because the contagious phase only lasts for a few days. He did say that I might be contagious from time to time when symptoms are severe, because that might indicate a resurgence of infection .

When kids get it (the most common age to get it is under 8 years old), they develop mild flu-like symptoms for a few days, then develop a rash. People are generally only contagious for the few days before the rash develops, but adults often don't develop the flu-like symptoms or the rash; so it is pretty hard to avoid an adult who might have it. Adults tend to get the joint symptoms, although not to the degree that my body has.

I don't recall having either the flu or the rash when this all started, although I did feel like I had caught some sort of a bug for a few days about a month ago. That may have been a resurgence of this virus, but my doc thinks that I've had it for longer than that. The joint stuff started in October, so I probably caught it around then.

With love, Erika