Enterovirus D68 and Your Kids: What You Need to Know

The potentially dangerous enterovirus that caused paralysis-like symptoms in one Southern California child may mimic a bad cold at first and trigger a hospitalization in children with breathing disorders, such as asthma, a doctor said today.

“It’s unclear why (enterovirus D68) affects children in this way but scientists and health officials are trying to find answers on why it appears to attack the nervous system,” said Dr. Grace Aldrovandi, chief of infectious diseases at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “While officials can’t say for certain that enterovirus D68 is causing paralysis, there does appear to be a strong association.”

A child treated for enterovirus D68 at Children’s Hospital suffered respiratory distress and partial limb paralysis and is now at home.

Dr. Pia Pannaraj, who appears in a Children’s Hospital video on the subject, recommended making sure children wash their faces and hands frequently.

Children with an underlying respiratory condition appear to be most adversely affected by the virus, she said, and symptoms of enterovirus D68 can be hard to distinguish from a common cold.

“However, a fever is not very common with enterovirus D68. The children who become very ill with enterovirus D68 develop wheezing and difficulty breathing.”

Children should be kept out of school to prevent spreading the virus, which should be treated with rest and hydration.

Across the state, 14 cases of enterovirus D68 have been confirmed, health officials said Friday.

--City News Service

PHOTO Image via Shutterstock

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