Rare Respiratory Illness Sickens Children Across Illinois, Midwest

By Amie Schaenzer

A rare respiratory illness has sickened children across 10 states, with cases recently cropping up in Illinois and possibly Chicago, according to CBS Chicago.

Enterovirus D68, or EV-D68, is related to rhinovirus, which causes the common cold, and is particularly troublesome for children with asthma, according to the article. EV-D68 typically causes mild respiratory illness and symptoms include wheezing and flu-like symptoms, according to CBS Chicago.

The wheezing, doctors said, is what parents should watch out for, according to ABC News.

Hundreds of children have been hospitalized in Kansas City, MO, and 70 childrenwere hospitalized with symptoms of the virus in Quincy, Ill., over the Labor Day weekend, according to the Chicago Tribune.

While doctors said that this time of year is particularly common for illnesses to spread with children heading back to school, this particular respiratory virus is very rare, according to ABC News.