Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68)

Signs and Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention | Children with Asthma | Resources

Infections with enteroviruses are usually common in the United States during summer and fall.

Fact Sheets

What parents need to know about EV-D68 and respiratory illness. See http://www.cdc.gov/features/EVD6

Signs & Symptoms

EV-D68 can cause mild to severe respiratory illness.

  • Mild symptoms may include fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough, and body and muscle aches.
  • Severe symptoms may include wheezing and difficulty breathing. See EV-D68 in the U.S., 2014 for details about infections occurring this year.

Anyone with respiratory illness should contact their doctor if they are having difficulty breathing or if their symptoms are getting worse.

Diagnosis

EV-D68 can only be diagnosed by doing specific lab tests on specimens from a person's nose and throat.

Some hospitals and doctor's offices can test ill patients to see if they have an enterovirus infection. However, most cannot do specific testing to determine the type of enterovirus, like EV-D68. Currently Arizona does not have the capability to test for EV-D68, and all lab samples are sent to CDC for analysis. Only CDC labs can confirm whether a sample from Arizona has the D68 strain.

The CDC recommends that clinicians only consider EV-D68 testing for patients with severe respiratory illness and when the cause is unclear.

CDC developed, and started using on October 14, a new, faster lab test for detecting EV-D68. Read more about what CDC is doing about EV-D68 in 2014.

Enterovirus D-68 for Health Care Professionals

Treatment

  • There is no specific treatment for people with respiratory illness caused by EV-D68. Talk to your child's doctor about the best way to control his or her symptoms.
  • Some people with severe respiratory illness may need to be hospitalized.
  • There are no antiviral medications currently available for people who become infected with EV-D68.

Prevention

To help avoid catching and spreading EV-D68, parents and children should always follow basic steps to stay healthy.

  • Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Washing hands correctly is the most important thing you can do to stay healthy. See Hand washing: Clean Hands Save Lives.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact, such as kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils, with people who are sick.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or shirt sleeve, not your hands.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick and keep sick children out of school.

If Your Child Has Asthma

Children with asthma are particularly at risk for severe symptoms from EV-D68 infection. Therefore, if your child has asthma, take some steps to prepare in case he or she catches EV-D68. CDC recommends you do the following to help maintain control of your child's asthma during this time:

  • Discuss and update your child's asthma action plan with his or her doctor.
  • Make sure your child takes his or her prescribed asthma medications as directed, especially long-term control medication(s).
  • Make sure your child knows to keep asthma reliever medication with him or her or has access to it at all times.
  • Get your child a flu vaccine, since flu and other respiratory infections can trigger an asthma attack. See Vaccination: Who Should Do It, Who Should Not and Who Should Take Precautions
  • If your child develops new or worsening asthma symptoms, follow the steps of his or her asthma action plan. If symptoms do not go away, call your child's doctor right away.
  • Make sure caregiver(s) and/or teacher(s) are aware of the child's condition, and that they know how to help if the child experiences any symptoms related to asthma.
  • Call your child's doctor if he or she is having difficulty breathing, if you feel you are unable to control symptoms, or if symptoms are getting worse.

Resources

Contact Us

  1. Office of Epidemiology & Data Services

    Email us

    Physical Address
    4041 N Central Avenue
    Phoenix, AZ 85012

    Phone 602-506-6767
    Fax 602-372-8935