A rare virus has put children in the hospital with severe respiratory infections, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning doctors and parents to be on the alert for Enterovirus 68. In August, health officials in Illinois and Missouri reported a surge in emergency room visits for severe respiratory illnesses in Chicago and Kansas City. That surge is continuing -- 12 states have confirmed cases -- and the bug could be on its way to Arkansas.
The sick patients have all been children and teenagers, and 68 percent have a history of asthma or wheezing, according to a report published Monday in the CDC's "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report." No one is known to have died.
In the United States, people are more likely to get infected with enteroviruses in the summer and fall.
Symptoms
EV-D68 can cause mild to severe respiratory illness -- perhaps a bad summer cold. However, in children with asthma and other respiratory illnesses, symptoms can be severe.
Most people who are infected with enteroviruses do not get sick, or they only have mild illness. Symptoms of mild illness can include:
• Fever
• Runny nose, sneezing, cough
• Skin rash
• Mouth blisters
• Body and muscle aches
If concerned about symptoms, contact your health care provider.
Transmission
Enteroviruses can be found in an infected person's feces (stool), eyes, nose and mouth secretions (such as saliva, nasal mucus, or sputum), or blister fluid.
One can get exposed to the virus by:
• Having close contact, such as touching or shaking hands, with an infected person
• Touching objects or surfaces that have the virus on them
• Changing diapers of an infected person
• Drinking water that has the virus in it
If a person then touches his eyes, nose or mouth before washing his hands, he can get infected with the virus and become sick.
Prevention
There are no vaccines for preventing EV-D68 infections, and because many infected people do not have symptoms, it is difficult to prevent enteroviruses from spreading.
You can help protect yourself from respiratory illnesses by following these steps:
• Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after using the toilet and changing diapers.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoiding close contact -- such as touching and shaking hands -- with people who are sick.
• Avoid kissing, hugging and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for enterovirus infection. People with mild illness caused by enterovirus infection typically only need symptom treatment. They usually recover completely. However, some cases can be severe enough to require hospitalization.
If concerned about symptoms, contact your health care provider.
-- Laurinda Joenks
Source: Centers For Disease Control And Prevention
NAN Life on 09/10/2014