Enterovirus D68 is a virus that produces symptoms similar to the common cold and other respiratory problems. In the long term, it can even lead to respiratory failure and affect your brain negatively. Therefore, in this blog, we have mentioned in detail what enterovirus D68 is, what are its symptoms and causes and how to treat enterovirus D68.
Did you know:
- Enterovirus D68 causes at least 4% of the total infections reported globally. Among these, Enterovirus D68 symptoms were most commonly observed in children under the age of 5 and patients with diseases related to asthma and acute flaccid myelitis (AFM).
- Apart from this, several research studies also suggest that at least 66.3% of people worldwide have, at least once in their lifetime, caught Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infection. 1
- Moreover, the prevalence of respiratory diseases and AFM due to EV-D68, especially in children and adolescents, increased significantly in the United States in the years 2014, 2016, and 2018. 2
What is Enterovirus D68?
Although the term might sound a bit complicated, understanding what enterovirus D68 is is not rocket science. So, to simplify for you, here is an easy definition of what exactly Enterovirus D68 is:
Enterovirus D68 (also called EV-D68 in short) is a type of non-polio enterovirus. It can spread via human contact and cause infections. The months of summer and fall are considered the peak enterovirus season since the maximum infections are reported during this time.
However, EV-D68 infections do not always produce clearly identifiable symptoms. Therefore, sometimes, you might not recognise an EV-D68 infection even when you have it. Plus, even if the symptoms occur, they occur on a very mild level.
Hence, there is a great chance that you might overlook the Enterovirus D68 symptoms and keep suffering from the disease unconsciously. 3
3 Common Causes of Enterovirus D68
Now that we have a brief idea about what is Enterovirus D68, let's have a look at the overview of what causes Enterovirus D68.
1. Week Immunity
Enterovirus D68 symptoms are more common in children. But sometimes, even adults can develop them.
Likewise, one of the primary causes of Enterovirus D68 in adults is a suppressed immune system. Suppressed or weak immunity can ultimately give rise to several EV-D68-related respiratory disorders (diseases that affect the lungs and breathing mechanisms) in adults. 4
2. Viral Transmission
Viral transmission refers to the process by which the EV-D68 virus transfers from one person to another through direct or indirect contact with the infected person.
Likewise, a person suffering from Enterovirus D68 symptoms unintentionally spreads the virus in their surroundings by—
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Touching any surface that other people might also touch
Hence, EV-D68 pollutes the air because it is present in the droplets that come out from the mouth and nose of an infected person whenever they cough or sneeze. As a result, when a normal, healthy person breathes in this air, they also develop the Enterovirus D68 symptoms.
So, if you ever happen to be around a sick person during the enterovirus season, it is a good idea to maintain a safe distance from them.
Along with this, you must also take the right cleanliness measures to get rid of the chances of developing enterovirus D68 symptoms due to viral transmission. We have discussed more about the enterovirus D68 prevention methods in the later sections of this article.
3. Enterovirus Seasonal Outbreak
You can catch an EV-D68 infection at any given point in a year.
However, the prevalence of Enterovirus D68 symptoms and other non-polio enterovirus infections are more common in some months, leading to an enterovirus seasonal outbreak.
Likewise, as we have already mentioned before, the greatest number of people catch an EV-D68 infection during the summer and fall months. This makes summer and fall the ultimate enterovirus seasons.
That is why it is important to maintain a proper distance from an infected person during the enterovirus season to minimise your chances of developing the EV-D68 infection.
Symptoms of Enterovirus D68
EV-D68 doesn't always produce easily recognisable symptoms. But when the symptoms appear, they mostly affect your respiratory system. These symptoms can be categorised into 2 types—
1. Mild Enterovirus D68 Symptoms
The mild symptoms of Enterovirus D68 include—
- Having a runny nose
- Coughing
- Excessive sneezing
- Body pain
- Weakness and pain in muscles
2. Serious Enterovirus D68 Symptoms
The serious symptoms of Enterovirus D68 include—
- Finding difficulty in breathing
- Wheezing
Apart from these, Enterovirus D68 causes additional respiratory problems like Acute Flaccid Myelitis (also called AFM). In fact, this virus can also worsen the symptoms of asthma in children.
3. Symptoms of Enterovirus D68 Related Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM)
AFM is a rare but dangerous neurological disorder that occurs largely in children due to EV-D68. The main symptoms of AFM include—
- Weakness in arms and/or legs
- Difficulty in swallowing simple foods
- Slurred speech
- Facial droop
- Weakness in the face
- Facing difficulty in moving the eyes
- Drooping eyelids
- Pain in the areas in and around your—
Therefore, if you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms lasting for more than a few days, then it is best to consider a medical expert to get the enterovirus D68 treatment on time.
Diagnosis of EV-D68
Unfortunately, even today, there are no reliable and commercially available diagnostic kits to separate EV-D68 from other enterovirus types for easy detection. Moreover, the early stages of an EV-D68 infection result in symptoms that replicate those related to influenza and several other respiratory diseases. That is why it is not possible to differentiate between an EV-D68 infection and a respiratory illness through diagnostic kits.
But not to lose hope, there are still several laboratory tests that are designed to examine and study the samples collected from patients who are suspicious that they might be having an enterovirus D68 infection. 5
These tests include performing the analysis of specimens taken from an infected person's—
Apart from this, in October of 2014, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC also developed faster, more advanced, and highly specialised EV-D68 diagnostic tests like—
- PCR, that is, Polymerous Chain Reaction Tests
- Molecular Sequencing Tests
Enterovirus D68 Treatment Options
Currently, there are no specific drugs, antiviral medicines, or vaccines available for the treatment of enterovirus D68. However, enterovirus D68 symptoms can be effectively treated by targeting a person's individual situation and giving them medicines for their particular issues.
Likewise, here are some great enterovirus D68 treatment options that people with different problems can benefit from—
- For adults having symptoms of mild respiratory illnesses, commonly available over-the-counter medicines that are generally used for treating fever and pain can be used to treat enterovirus D68. However, this does not apply to children with a similar issue. Likewise, it is important to note that aspirin should never be given to children to treat enterovirus D68.
- If a person is showing more serious symptoms of a respiratory disorder, then hospitalising them to get specialised enterovirus D68 treatment is the best option to avoid further risk. 6
How To Treat Enterovirus D68 Symptoms (Mild) At Home?
If you have mild to negligible enterovirus D68 symptoms, you can simply treat them at home by drinking enough water and staying well hydrated. Along with this, you can also take medicines that treat the common cold according to the intensity of your symptoms.
Prevention of Enterovirus D68
As mentioned above, even today, there is no availability of medicines or vaccines, which can effectively be used for enterovirus D68 treatment or enterovirus D68 prevention.
There are certain lifestyle and habit-related enterovirus D68 prevention steps that you can take daily to keep yourself away from the chances of developing enterovirus D68 symptoms both during on and off enterovirus season.
So, here are some enterovirus D68 prevention tips—
1. Frequently Wash Your Hands
As already mentioned in the above sections, one of the primary enterovirus D68 causes is viral transmission.
What happens after viral transmission is that once you get the viruses on your hands, it takes no time for them to spread to other body parts as soon as your hands come in contact with them. Plus, when you have your food with virus-contaminated hands, your chances of developing an EV-D68 infection increase significantly.
That is why, whenever it is possible, use soap and water to thoroughly wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Along with this, when you are in public spaces, you must always carry a hand sanitiser regardless of whether it is enterovirus season or not.
Another helpful prevention tip is to always cover your mouth with tissue paper or your elbow instead of your hands while coughing or sneezing, whether you are sick or not.
Lastly, do not bring your dirty hands directly in contact with your nose, eyes, or mouth.
2. Disinfection Of Common Objects
Touching any surface that might contain the viruses increases the risk of developing enterovirus D68 symptoms.
That is why it is recommended to frequently clean and disinfect the common objects, which are generally used by everyone. Likewise, disinfection of common objects must be a priority, especially after someone who is already sick visits your house, even if it is just for a day or a few hours.
3. Avoid Being in Close Contact with An Infected Person
Viral transmission happens in 3 ways:
- Staying in the same environment as an infected person
- Touching the same objects that the infected person has already touched
- Coming directly in contact with the infected person
Among these, the quickest way to develop enterovirus D68 symptoms is to come in direct contact with an infected person. This happens through—
- Hugging
- Kissing
- Eating or drinking in the same utensils 7
Prognosis and Long-Term Effects
Most diseases caused by enteroviruses, including EV-D68, heal on their own with time. The symptoms usually start fading within 7 to 14 days, and generally, after the 15th day, complete recovery is observed.
However, the time taken by a person to recover from enterovirus symptoms depends largely on their health status along with any underlying issues (if present) and the particular viral strain, which has infected them.
Prognosis
The worst prognosis that can result from an enterovirus infection includes the occurrence of the following conditions—
- Serious respiratory diseases that can even result in the failure of your respiratory functioning
- Persistent encephalitis
- Paralytic poliomyelitis 8
Long-Term Effects (Complications)
The long-term effects of EV-D68 include—
In Children: Children with asthma can gradually develop severe difficulty breathing due to the presence of EV-D68.
In Adults: Adults can undergo neurological damage that creates difficulties in the efficient functioning of their brain and nerves. This leads to complications like—
- Dysfunctioning of the cranial nerve
- Weakness in the limbs (arms and legs)
In extreme cases, a person can develop even both of the above-mentioned issues.
Conclusion
To summarise, EV-D68 generally affects children and produces symptoms similar to respiratory disorders. Its long-term effects can include breathing problems in children and several neurological issues in adults.
However, the good news is that it is possible to treat enterovirus D68 and prevent it from spreading by adopting the right habits. These include keeping yourself and your surroundings clean and staying away from infected people.
Remember that if the enterovirus D68 symptoms don't subside within 14 days, it is important to get medical help to prevent further complications.
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