MADISON, Wis., Oct. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As fall approaches, more young kids could be heading to the hospital with severe respiratory illness. The culprit is a particularly brutal strain enterovirus. While it's common for an enterovirus to circulate each year in the summer and fall, the number of confirmed cases of D68 this year is significantly higher than previous years, according to the CDC.
D68 is just one strain of a number of non-polio enteroviruses, with symptoms that range from mild to severe. Infants, children and teens are the most likely to become infected because they lack antibodies form a prior exposure. The CDC reports that mild symptoms of enterovirus are aches, fever, cough and a runny nose – similar to that of the common cold.
However, in severe cases, children infected with D68 have wheezing and difficulty breathing. These respiratory complications have led to an increase in hospitalizations as a result of this year's enterovirus strain. Children with asthma are at especially high risk for severe symptoms as a result of an infection.
While the virus can be frightening, D68 can be prevented the same way as other seasonal viruses because it is spread in a similar way. Like cold and flu viruses, enterovirus is transmitted through saliva, sputum, and nasal mucus when an infected person coughs.
Top Enterovirus Prevention Steps from the CDC
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching eyes and mouth with unwashed hands.
- If someone is sick, avoid touching, kissing, hugging and sharing cups or utensils with the person.
- To prevent infection to others, stay home when feeling ill.
- Use disinfectant on commonly used surfaces.
- Children with asthma should be sure they have their reliever with them at all times and take prescribed medications as directed.
Reducing the Transmission of Infections such as Enterovirus
This year's enterovirus is just one of many airborne infections that may lead to school absences for kids and missed work for adults – not to mention the discomfort of being sick. Enterovirus is predicted to taper off as winter approaches, but other viruses will be right around the corner. While the tips listed above are proven ways to prevent an infection, improving indoor air quality (IAQ) can also help keep a family healthy this winter.
Controlling Air Purity and Relative Humidity
An air purifier is capable of trapping 80 percent of virus-sized particles that pass through a home's HVAC system. Since many seasonal cold and flu viruses are airborne, a whole-home air purifier may help reduce the transmission of the disease.
Another attribute of IAQ that could reduce infections indoors is relative humidity (RH). While humidity is often associated with comfort, virus transmission has been shown to increase in seasonably dry air. According to a report on the role of RH in the aerosol transmission of influenza, researchers concluded that "maintaining indoor relative humidity of greater than 40 percent will significantly reduce the infectivity of aerosolized [influenza]."
