Colds are something we have all experienced before. There are many different types of viruses that can cause the common cold. However this year a  “not so common” strain has been sending hundreds of kids to the hospital.

It began in the Midwest in late August but since the start of school, as with many colds, it is spreading like “wild fire.’ According to the CDC it has now shown up in the Northeast with 21 states reporting cases.

The Enterovirus family is a common group of viruses that cause summer colds in late August to early fall. However a rare strain of Enterovirus called EV-D68 is attributed to this recent outbreak.

Because this strain was common when it was first identified in the 60’s, children have been affected more severely than older people with this recent outbreak, who might have been exposed in the past. We saw a similar problem with the H1N1 flu in 2009.

Children are coming to the hospital with severe respiratory infections. Many have ended up in the ICU on ventilators. Those most at risk already have respiratory conditions such as asthma. Symptoms include fever, coughing, sometimes a rash, wheezing and difficulty breathing. There is no vaccine or any antiviral medications for this strain of virus. The treatment in the hospital is just supportive care with oxygen and medications that are inhalers used to open up breathing passages called bronchodilators.

The important caveat for parents and aunts, if your niece or nephew has a cold but starts to have difficulty breathing, such as using their stomach muscles or muscles in between their ribs called accessory muscles to pull in hard as they struggling to breathe or if they have blue or pale lips, or are lethargic …Don’t wait. Call 911 right away and take them to the emergency room!

During cold and flu season there are prevention measures you can take:

1. Washing hands well …especially after using the restroom or changing diapers
2. Avoid touching your face, nose, or eyes with unwashed hands
3. Avoid kissing or sharing cups and utensils with someone sick
4. Disinfect all surfaces and toys that that came into contact with someone sick
5. And stay home if you are sick
6. As well as anyone with severe respiratory symptoms, should be evaluated in the ER right away

Because a savvy auntie knows “an ounce of prevention is really worth a pound of cure!”

Photo: Sura Nualpradid

Published: September 17, 2014