Parvovirus B19 Infection Presenting as Acute Anemia and Polyarthropathy

Human parvovirus B19 is a common viral pathogen in humans with increasing prevalence in the United States. While it is classically taught as an important cause of transient aplastic crisis in patients with sickle cell disease, it is usually a mild, self-limited illness in healthy hosts. We report a 46-year-old woman who presented with normocytic anemia, rash, and arthropathy after a flu-like syndrome and was found to have acute parvovirus B19 infection. She improved with supportive care. This case highlights the varied manifestations of parvovirus B19 infection and the importance of recognizing it as a cause of acute arthropathy with rash and anemia.