A RARE illness that starts off as the common cold and has already affected more than one thousand children in multiple states is becoming far more serious, doctors say. The not-yet identified disease could very likely become a nationwide threat to kids.
Health officials suspect a rare respiratory virus, known as enterovirus 68, that is similar to the rhinovirus which causes the common cold. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, both are related, but the enterovirus 68 can lead to severe respiratory systems such as wheezing.
“It can start just like a cold—runny nose, sneezing, coughs,” said Dr. Richard Besser, ABC News’ chief health and medical editor. “But it’s the wheezing you have to watch out for.”
The virus appears as a common seasonal cold, but becomes more severe as it develops, affecting breathing patterns and the whole respiratory system, making it more susceptible to children and particularly dangerous for kids with asthma.
“The kids are coming in with respiratory symptoms, their asthma is exacerbated,” said Dr. Christine Nyquist, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Colorado. “Kids with no wheezing are having wheezing.”
According to the CDC, the rare virus has already been reported in at least 10 states: Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, Ohio, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Georgia, and the list is expected to grow.
Doctors are unsure of how the enterovirus outbreak started, though many suspect that back-to-school season certainly plays a part in spreading illness.
“This is a very common time for outbreaks. Kids come back to school, they like to share things, they bring them home to their little brothers and sisters, and enteroviruses tend to occur in the summer,” Dr. Besser agreed. “But this one, this particular enterovirus 68, is very rare and they have no idea why it showed up this year.”
Since mid-August, the Children’s Hospital Colorado has already seen more than 900 pediatric patients exhibiting symptoms of the virus, hospital officials report. 86 kids with severe symptoms were admitted, and a handful went to the intensive care unit.
Younger children with asthma appear to be most at risk, according to Colorado doctors. Several young patients were recently sedated in the ICU and given an emergency breathing tube.
“As a pediatric ICU doctor, we try our best not to intubate kids with asthma at any point in time,” said Rocky Mountain Children’s Hospital Dr. Raju Meyappan. “They all needed it. The onset [of the virus] is severe.”
Although this isn’t the first time the enterovirus 68 has appeared in the U.S., little knowledge about the serious disease nor how it is contacted exists. There are currently no anti-viral medications or vaccines to prevent infection, except going to health care providers for an often-costly treatment.
“The important thing is to recognize the signs of respiratory distress,” said Dr. Besser, referring to audible wheezing, bluish lip color, and impaired speech as distress signals. “There are treatments to improve respiration.”
Most enteroviruses are spread through contact with “respiratory secretions” like saliva, mucus, and even feces, according to the CDC. Both children and adults are encouraged to thoroughly (and often) wash/sanitize their hands, avoid contact with sick people, use disinfectant, and stay home if feeling at all under the weather.
(With reports from ABC News and Yahoo News)
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek September 10-12, 2014 Sec. A pg.1)