LAKEVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL Officials: Widespread rash is likely mild viral disease

About 80 percent of people contract the disease by the age of 50, often without realizing it.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CORTLAND -- Officials think the outbreak of a rash among Lakeview Middle School pupils was likely caused by a common and generally not dangerous childhood disease.
"People should be generally comforted that there is a logical explanation for what is going on," said Robert Brodell, a Warren dermatologist who is assisting the school district with the case.
School officials called the health department after more than a dozen pupils went to the school nurse with a mysterious rash. Attendance at the 400-pupil school has crept back up to normal after dropping by 10 percent after officials sent a note home to parents Thursday, said Matt Chojnacki, the school superintendent.
Likely fifth disease: A child examined by Brodell had the symptoms of fifth disease, a viral infection characterized by rosy cheeks and redness on the upper chest and arms. Blood tests are expected to confirm the presence of the disease within a matter of days, he said.
A pupil examined by another doctor also had symptoms of the disease, he said.
Like other common childhood diseases, fifth disease is highly contagious, but in some cases there are no symptoms of infection. Brodell said that about 80 percent of people contract the disease by the age of 50, often without realizing it.
It can, however, be dangerous to pregnant women or people with sickle cell anemia, he said.
He said the outbreak at Lakeview Middle School has likely run its course.
After first reports of the rash, school officials searched the building for substances that could be causing an allergic reaction, but found nothing, Chojnacki said.