September 23rd, 2022 / 0 Comments

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued an advisory about an uptick in enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) cases causing severe respiratory illness requiring hospitalization in children. Here’s what you need to know.
Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is a common virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms such as fever, runny nose, coughing, sneezing or body aches. But EV-D68 can also lead to more severe respiratory illness, as well as acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, a rare but serious neurological complication that can cause permanent paralysis or death.
EV-D68 is related to the rhinovirus and more than 100 non-polio enteroviruses, which are responsible for the common cold. There is always a spike of enterovirus in the late summer/fall. However, you can get infected year-round.
The symptoms of EV-68 are similar to those of a cold or asthma, which include:
Experts in Infectious Diseases at Children’s National Hospital say children with asthma or those who are less than 5 years old are more vulnerable to the virus. Allergies do not appear to play a role. EV-D68 has no vaccine and no specific treatment other than treating the symptoms.
Transmission of EV-68 may occur through close contact with an infected person or by touching objects or surfaces that have the virus on them and touching your eyes, mouth or nose.
Most people who get EV-D68 only experience cold-like symptoms. Occasionally, EV-D68 can result in a condition called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), which is characterized by inflammation in the neck region of the spinal cord. Some people with AFM have difficulty moving their arms, while others experience weakness in all four extremities.
If your child has a respiratory illness and experiences any of the following AFM symptoms, you should seek medical attention:
Enteroviruses spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes or touches a surface that is then touched by others. So, hand washing and practicing good personal hygiene are the best way to prevent the spread of germs. There is neither a vaccine nor specific treatment for enterovirus other than treating the symptoms.
The CDC recommends protecting yourself and others from the virus by:
Parents should also consider the following to minimize their children’s fears:
If a child has the virus, the illness can escalate quickly. If your child has the symptoms listed above and you suspect your child may have the virus, contact your pediatrician right away. While there is no specific treatment or antiviral medication for EV-D68, your healthcare provider can tell you the best ways to control your child’s symptoms.
Leave a Comment
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!