Pruritus in parvovirus infection.

An outbreak of slapped cheek syndrome (erythema infectiosum) occurred in Chepstow between March and June 1986. About 50 children with the illness were seen in one general practice. During the same period five women in the practice developed arthritis associated with human parvovirus infection and four of them suffered marked pruritus. It is suggested that if pruritus is a feature in any patient with an acute onset arthritis, parvovirus infection should be considered as a possible cause.