You snooze you lose?
You can ease mild symptoms by drinking lots of fluids and getting plenty of rest, taking a hot shower to loosen congestion, and taking over-the-counter medication for fever and pain.
Go to the emergency room immediately if you or your child develops severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, blue skin, lips, or nails, or any symptoms of AFM like slurred speech, weakness, or paralysis.
Mild symptoms of EV-D68 are likely to ease after a week or two. However, if your child develops AFM, it can take them over a year to recover. Their healthcare provider might recommend physical or occupational therapy.
There isn't a specific antiviral treatment for EV-D68. Mild symptoms usually improve in a week or two with at-home care. Severe cases need to be treated in a hospital, where a doctor may administer an intravenous antibody treatment that can help you fight off infections.
Practicing good hygiene is key to reducing your risk of contracting EV-D68 and spreading it to others. You should aim to sneeze or cough into the crook of your elbow, disinfect high-touch surfaces, wash your hands with soap and water, and keep your kids home from school when they’re sick.
According to data from the nonprofit WastewaterSCAN, enterovirus D68 was detected in 207 out of 268 samples taken from wastewater sites across the country.
If you have mild, cold-like symptoms, your healthcare provider is unlikely to test for EV-D68. If you have more severe symptoms, and you test negative for common viruses like the flu and COVID-19, they may suspect EV-D68 if it's spreading in your area.
To confirm a diagnosis, your healthcare provider may perform a blood test or lumbar puncture to test your cerebrospinal fluid, particularly if you have nervous system symptoms. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) may also be used to diagnose and rule out other causes of weakness and paralysis.
In addition to AFM, EV-D68 can also lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, and meningitis. People with asthma or a compromised immune system are more likely to experience severe respiratory symptoms.
EV-D68 is a viral infection that is specifically a non-polio enterovirus. The infection is caused by the virus entering the body through respiratory droplets.
EV-D68 is a contagious virus that spreads through sneezing, coughing, sharing eating utensils, touching contaminated surfaces, or contact with infected feces (such as not washing hands thoroughly after using the bathroom or changing a diaper).
Symptoms of enterovirus D68 are typically mild. They include a stuffy or runny nose, cough, fever, muscle pain, and a sore throat. You may also experience shortness of breath and wheezing.
Within a few days to two weeks after initial EV-D68 symptoms, some people develop symptoms of AFM. These include weakness, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, and back, neck, or arm pain.
The pattern stopped in 2020 when the US went into lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This dramatically reduced viral spread and that year, just 32 cases of AFM were logged.
Other enteroviruses include poliovirus and enterovirus 71 (which causes some cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease) can also result in AFM.
Some people with EV-D68 develop a nervous system disorder called acute flaccid myelitis. AFM causes sudden, extreme muscle weakness and paralysis.
Enterovirus D68 is a virus that causes respiratory infections. It's more common in children and teenagers, but adults can get it too.
Since 2014, larger waves of AFM have followed an every-other-year pattern, with spikes in 2016 (153 cases) and 2018 (238 cases).
In 2022, the spread of D68 increased again as lockdowns were lifted. However, a rise in AFM cases didn't follow. Experts say this could be due to the way the virus itself has changed or that more people in the US have been exposed and now have a level of immunity to D68.
According to scientists, enterovirus D68 is very common in the US, and most people over the age of five show evidence of a previous infection. Fortunately, neurological complications are relatively rare.
EV-D68 was detected at a medium level at 17 wastewater sites in California, including facilities in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, and San Jose.
Most people with EV-D68 have symptoms like a runny nose or cough, but it can also infect the spinal cord, similar to the virus that causes polio. This can damage the nerves, causing temporary or permanent paralysis.
Experts have begun conducting safety studies on a monoclonal antibody designed to stop D68. In studies involving mice, it successfully prevented infections that could lead to AFM. However, the research is expected to take years before the treatment is deemed safe and effective.
Sources: (CNN) (NBC News) (LA Times) (Cleveland Clinic)
While most children with AFM regain some muscle strength and function, some never fully recover. According to research, less than 10% of individuals with AFM achieve a complete recovery.
AFM can affect the muscles used to breathe, which can result in respiratory failure. Approximately one-third of people with AFM require intubation and ventilation.
AFM can also cause serious neurological complications, including body temperature changes, unstable blood pressure, and irregular heart rate, which can be life-threatening.
So, what are the signs of Enterovirus D68 we should look out for? How can we prevent EV-D68 infection, and at what point should you contact a doctor? You'll find the answers in this gallery. Click through now to discover.
Why enterovirus D68 is on the rise
This virus can cause paralysis in children
HEALTH Viral infection
Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), a respiratory virus that can sometimes cause paralysis in children, is currently spreading across the United States. EV-D68 nucleic acids have been detected in wastewater, signaling a potential rise in cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a rare neurological condition linked to EV-D68. AFM can result in muscle weakness and, in some cases, permanent paralysis. While most EV-D68 infections cause mild respiratory symptoms, around 90% of cases occur in children, and there is currently no specific treatment.
So, what are the signs of Enterovirus D68 we should look out for? How can we prevent EV-D68 infection, and at what point should you contact a doctor? You'll find the answers in this gallery. Click through now to discover.