Enterovirus Alert! There has been an outbreak recently. And we are not referring to the flu. The name sounds alien, “enterovirus.” It sounds like some type of an alien or extraterrestrial life-draining super-virus. However, ugly as it is, the Enterovirus lives right here on earth. Its symptoms are easily confused with the flu, seasonal allergy or an early summer cold.
Symptom Watch for Enterovirus or EV-D68
According to the CDC, the symptoms of EV-D68 include “mild to severe respiratory illness, or no symptoms at all.” It is easily confused with a bad cold. Most of the time, the symptoms of the enterovirus are mild. Do read on to discover what can happen if the infection turns serious.
Look Out! Enterovirus is Everywhere.
You might see such signs as “a runny nose, sneezing, cough, body aches, and muscle aches.”
However, watch out for severe symptoms like difficulty in catching breath or wheezing.
And the CDC warns, “Anyone with respiratory illness should contact their doctor if they are having difficulty breathing or if their symptoms are getting worse.”
The Back Story of a Serious Outbreak of Enterovirus in 2014
As you might imagine, with the timeliness of this “alert” blog, infections with enteroviruses are common in the United States. This is especially true during summer and later, in fall. Now, one knows why the enteroviruses seem to come with the changing warmer weather. To put the enterovirus collection of viruses in perspective, we’ll look at a little history. The CDC told the scary story of an Outbreak in 2014.
“During that time in 2014, the United States experienced a nationwide outbreak of EV-D68 associated with severe respiratory illness. A total of 1,153 cases were confirmed in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Almost all confirmed cases were among children. There were many who had asthma or a history of wheezing.” (Now you know why we are sending you a FLASS alert.)
The Mystery Paralysis
Meanwhile, Science Daily also reported, “Children in the US began to be diagnosed with a mystery illness that caused a polio-like paralysis.” And later they added, “More than 120 children developed the condition, known as acute flaccid myelitis, in the US alone but experts were baffled as to the cause.”
As we just mentioned, the year of the mystery flaccid myelitis, was also the same year. Also, there “were also unusually large outbreaks of infection with Enterovirus D68 or EV-D68. This is a virus, “known since the early 1960s to cause runny noses, coughs, muscle aches, fever and difficulty breathing.”
About 2280 people in the US, Canada and Europe were infected with the virus. Many of them were children. And their respiratory symptoms were more severe than usual.Clusters of the paralyzing illness, also mostly in children, were reported in the same regions.” Scientists put the two conditions together, the enterovirus and the acute flaccid myelitis. Henceforth, they have been very watchful of the entire group of various enteroviruses and the infections they cause.
What We Don’t Know…
Watch Out For Enterovirus
The CDC has issued statements about this EV-D68 that look like disclaimers. They report emphatically that from year to year, the effects of enterovirus cannot be estimated. “CDC can’t predict whether EV-D68 will be a common type of enterovirus to cause sickness in future seasons.” This is “because a mix of different enterovirus types circulates every year, and different types can be common in different years. But so far EV-D68 cases in years since 2014 have been reported more sporadically, which is considered typical.”
So, we don’t have an epidemic. And we don’t want one. But, reading to discover the amazing preventative techniques we urge you to use so we can avoid severe problems with Enterovirus.
Enterovirus and Asthma Don’t Mix!
FLASS is alerting you about the Enterovirus because you might hear more about it in the near future. Likewise, you might have heard about it in 2014 when the infamous outbreak of EV-D68 made the history. We reported this above when the virus “sent hundreds of children to the hospital with some serious symptoms, including a polio-like paralysis.”
Thus we want to make the serious point that “Children with asthma are more at risk of getting the virus because of their already inflamed – and, consequently – smaller airways, and the fact that Enterovirus D68 attacks their already weakened respiratory systems. “It can also take longer for children with asthma to fight off the virus.” This is especially significant since their “inexperienced immune systems have not dealt with it numerous times before.”
Enterovirus: A Serious Asthma Trigger
This virus mounts a strong attack on children’s lungs and an especially strong attack on people diagnosed with asthma. Therefore, the doctors and healthcare professionals at FLASS want to send you extra warnings.
Below is a list of simple ways how you, your parents, your caregivers and loved ones can help if you are diagnosed with an Enterovirus.
In general, we alert you to stick to your asthma action plan. This spring is no time to be negligent about your medication or routine. With the allergy season on one hand and viruses like the enterovirus on the other, patients with asthma must be extra-vigilant.
Easy Ammunition Against Asthma Flare-ups in the Spring
Do Not Tempt Your Asthma Triggers.
- Be sure you follow-up and communicate with your primary care doctor and your FLASS specialist whenever you have a flare-up or exacerbation of your asthma or other respiratory condition.
2. Maintain your long-term control medicine. And keep your rescue inhaler or nebulizer nearby.
3. Remember to take the flu shots as soon as possible each year. Be vigilant as you already know that any flu or viral infection can trigger an asthma attack or at least worsen your asthma symptoms.
4. This is also true if your doctor or healthcare provider gives you a diagnosis of the enterovirus.
Moreover, this is a good time of year to make sure that teachers or employers know you or your loved one has asthma.If your loved one is a child, make sure his or her teacher is aware of his condition.
Double check that the people in your environment or your child’s environment can handle an asthma flare-up.
5. And we of FLASS never tire of posting this reminder: No person, child or adult, sick or ill, should tolerate second-hand smoke in the home or family automobile. And this is critically important if you or your loved one has asthma.
Now, The Terrific Take-Away for Today: How We Can Reduce the Risk of Enterovirus Infection
Referring to the opening of our article, this virus is not near as difficult as fighting alien invaders. We can easily prevent its growth and spread. Help wipe out the Enterovirus with these simple weapons:
1. Wash your hands, with soap and water, taking care to scrub for 20 seconds.
2. Do not touch your face with unwashed hands. Break the habit.
3. This can be awkward, but you must avoid kissing, hugging, drinking or eating after sick people.
4. Avoid catching sneezes in your hands. Use a tissue or your inside-elbow-shirt-sleeve.
5. Remember to Clean and disinfect the surfaces of things you touch often: doorknobs, phones and toys.
6. Do not go to work or school if you know you are getting sick. Stay home.
An Enterovirus can Trigger an Asthma Attack in Patients of any Age
You see, these are very close to the same techniques you used to help FLASS combat the spread of the flu last winter.
With these simple precautions, we can remove the risk of enterovirus infections. So, we suggest you adapt the simple behaviors listed above to avoid outbreaks.
Currently, there is a genetically distinct strain of the virus that actually causes the more severe polio-like illness and paralysis, acute flaccid myelitis, explained above. Likewise, if your loved one is fighting asthma or another respiratory condition, help us help.
With the above little list, we can all help by preventing outbreaks of the enterovirus. Remember, acute flaccid myelitis sometimes comes in the wake of the Enterovirus.
The doctors, healthcare specialists and staff thank you for reading our Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists Blog, and this special Enterovirus Alert. Visit often for news you can use about All Things Respiratory.