Luck of the – what’s the opposite of Irish?

Yesterday morning we were having a bowl of strawberries when Noah came up in a bright rash on both cheeks (more on one than the other). Being parents of the 21st century we administered Benadryl, sweated it out for a few minutes, and when the rash did not progress further and even faded a bit we made a note to get a good allergist, dropped him off for Bouncy! Castle! Day!, called 3 times to check on him (me) and cleared the house of strawberries. He was perfectly healthy otherwise and came home blissed out. Not too blissed out for a family game of T-ball.

This morning though the red-cheeked “strawberry rash” had spread to a lacy rash down the arms. I am waiting to call the doctor’s office but given that he had a mild ‘cold’ last week I am Dr. Google-diagnosing him with Fifth Disease. Which is a perfectly harmless childhood illness that starts with a mild fever (or not) and cold-like symptoms, when it is contagious, and then progresses to a slapped-cheek rash that spreads into a lacy rash down the arms.

Perfectly harmless, that is, with one exception? Any bets on what that is?

Pregnant women. Pregnant women should not get this thing because it can (not to put too fine a line on it) kill their unborn child. Before 20 weeks. Alternatively, the baby can be severely anemic and require blood transfusions (when is not clear to me).

Sigh. Now this only happens if the mother has not had it way before, and catches it. My mother thinks maybe I did. She remembers I had something anyway. The problem is in a lot of adults it’s asymptomatic. So I wouldn’t know if I got it now.

Anyways, the doctor’s office opens at 9 am, and what’s done is done. But you know that I am going to be wondering for (with grace) the next 34 weeks.

I have to admit though that I am kind of glad it’s unlikely to be a strawberry allergy. They are awfully yummy.