An Overview of Enterovirus D68 - an Infectious Diseases

 

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is  generally a contagious virus which causes respiratory infections. It mostly affects the children and teens, but adults can also get it too. Normally, it causes mild cold-like symptoms. Unless you or your family members are very sick, you may not know that you have Enterovirus.

People who are affected with viruses can develop life-threatening respiratory problems. But some portion of children affected with Enterovirus D68 infections must develop a disorder of the nervous system which is usually called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). This AFM disorder causes extreme muscle weakness.In some rare cases, Childrens with AFM have permanent paralysis attack.

Generally, Enteroviruses are a group of viruses which usually cause various kinds of contagious infections. Totally, there are 300  and more types of enteroviruses.

Enterovirus D68 is one of the subtypes of enterovirus which generally affects the respiratory system. Healthcare professionals place this Enterovirus D68 type in the non polio enterovirus category. Typically, there are more than 100 non-polio enteroviruses.

Like the virus which causes polio, some of the enteroviruses affect the nervous system. They typically causes a some variety of health problems which includes:

• AFM.

• Hand, foot and mouth disease.

• Meningitis and encephalitis.

Who Gets the Virus?

People like infants and children are at greatest risk for Enterovirus D68, because most adults are already immune to the EV virus because they have past exposure to it. Adults may experience mild symptoms or not at all. And children are at high risk of having severe symptoms. And also children with asthma are at greatest risk for severe health issues. Hence they often go to the hospital.

Is Enterovirus Contagious?

Yes. Enteroviruses usually spread easily from one person to another person and usually on unwashed hands and surfaces which are contaminated by poop where the viruses can live for several days. They also spread the virus through droplets when someone affected with infection coughs or sneezes or through fluid in skin blisters.

People infected with the virus and not having any symptoms can also spread the virus to others for a few weeks.

Pregnant women can also pass the virus to her fetus if she gets infected before giving birth.

Transmission

Enterovirus D68 is one of the contagious viruses. You can catch the infection anytime, but infections are most common during seasons from August to November.

Usually, this type of virus lives in mucus, saliva, phlegm in the lungs and poop. This type of virus can spread through:

• when an infected person sneezes or coughs, it spreads through Airborne droplets .

• Any chances of contact with an infected person’s poop(For example, when changing a diaper or helping children to use the toilet)

• Kissing someone who is affected with the virus.

• Sharing eating utensils and cups to infected people.

• Or touching contaminated or infected with doorknobs, toys or other surfaces.

Symptoms of enterovirus D68

Children and teens are likely to experience symptoms of Enterovirus D68 because they have a low immune system so that it cannot fight against the virus.

Generally, Enterovirus D68 causes cold-like symptoms, which includes:

• Cough.

• Fever.

• Muscle pain or body aches.

• Runny nose and sneezing.

People may develop severe symptoms if they are affected with asthma or have weak immune systems. With these conditions, you or your kids might have wheezing and difficulty breathing issues. These symptoms require immediate medical help.

Diagnosis

Your healthcare professionals may suspect Enterovirus D68 which is usually based on symptoms and reports of outbreaks in the infected area. And a blood test can also confirm the presence of an enterovirus infection.

Usually, diagnosis steps undergo in specialized lab tests to find out the Enterovirus D68 virus in a person’s nasal secretions or blood. Your healthcare professional might need to send samples to your state's health department or CDC to confirm the diagnosis of Enterovirus D68.

Treatment

Generally, mild Enterovirus D68 infections will improve in a week or two with minimal amount of home care. But Antiviral drugs are not that much effective against this type of virus.

You can follow below steps to manage the symptoms:

• You should intake lots of fluids and get plenty of rest.

• You must take hot, steam showers or you can sit in a steamy bathroom to loosen your congestion.

• You can also take over-the-counter pain relief medicines or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs called (NSAIDs) to improve the fever and pain

Complications of enterovirus D68

People who are facing breathing issues or develop problems like pneumonia, they need hospitalization. In the year of 2014,  there was an Enterovirus  outbreak, almost 14 people died and more than 130 children had to develop acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). There was also a jump in the range of infection in children who develop acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) after the outbreaks during the year of  between 2016 to 2018.

Scientists and experts believe that the virus usually settles in spinal fluid which leads to developing acute flaccid myelitis disorder. Usually, signs of AFM show up suddenly and they are similar to stroke symptoms:

• Arm or leg weakness.

• Slurred speech.

• Facial drooping.

Generally, AFM develops after a few weeks of children who are recovering from a respiratory infection. So, you must seek medical help if AFM symptoms appear.

PREVENTION

You can sow down the process or stop the process of spreading EV-D68 infection by following good hygiene, which includes:

• You must sneeze or cough into the crook of the elbow.

• You must disinfect the highly touched surfaces like toys, countertops and doorknobs.

• You don’t share any eating utensils like cups, towels or clothing.

• If it is possible, you should separate ill children from healthy family members and classmates.

• You have to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is an enterovirus infection?

Ans: Enteroviruses are a group of viruses that cause a number of infectious illnesses which are usually mild. 

Q2. What are the three 3 types of enteroviruses?

Ans: Three better-known non-polio enteroviruses are enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), and coxsackievirus A6 (CV-A6).

Q3. Do antibiotics treat enterovirus?

Ans: Antibiotics don't work on viral illnesses like enterovirus. And no antiviral medicines are available to help cure an enterovirus infection.

Q4. How is enterovirus diagnosed?

Ans: Diagnosis of enterovirus infections is often clinical. Laboratory diagnosis can be achieved with serological tests, viral isolation by cell culture, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Q5. What kills enterovirus?

Ans: Currently no medications exist that kill enteroviruses. Because they are viruses, antibiotics are ineffective against them.