What You Should Know About Enterovirus 68

Good afternoon parents.  As a parent of an asthmatic child, this is something that has me really concerned about the recent increase in cases of the virus.  Here is some information that you may or may not have already seen about the Enterovirus 68, or EV-D68, the virus that has us frightened here in the U.S., because it has been known to be a connection to paralysis in a few states, and even a death in Rhode Island, although it is still being investigated.

So why are there so many cases of this virus recently?  It normally peaks this time of year and tends to drop sometime between October and November, when the flu viruses start to pick up.  There are over 100 types of the enterovirus and the spread is unpredictable.  Basically, nobody really knows why the recent influx of this particular strain.

Unique symptoms of the EV-D68?  There are some, mainly lots of wheezing, especially in children who are prone to asthma.

How can we protect our kids from this and other similar viruses? Make sure you children are up to date on their vaccinations lik polio, flu, whooping cough, etc., especially now that flu season is getting under way. 

And then, to protect against any enterovirus or rhinovirus, parents should of course make sure their kids avoid close contact with sick children. Don't have your children go to play with them. And if your child gets sick, keep them home! Don't send them to school or to daycare, because that's when you infect others. And then, do the usual things: Have kids wash their hands often with soap and water, encourage them to avoid touching their faces, and disinfect surfaces. And of course, anytime a child has trouble breathing, contact the doctor right away.