Serious Respiratory Virus May Have Hit Westchester County
VALHALLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A handful of children have been hospitalized in Westchester County with what may be a respiratory virus that has sickened other children in a dozen states.
Doctors suspect the children, who are recovering at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center, were stricken with enterovirus D68.
Serious Respiratory Virus May Have Hit Children In Westchester County
Doctors are awaiting confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On Wednesday, health officials confirmed four cases of D68 in New York City, on Long Island, in New Jersey and in Connecticut.
EXTRA: Enterovirus D68: What Every Parent Should Know
There are hundreds of enteroviruses. This strain can cause children with asthma to suffer severe respiratory distress, while others may have just minor cold-like symptoms.
Serious Respiratory Virus Hits New York Area
"We have seen a number rhino and enterovirus positive patients who have tested positive for RV and EV as well as other viruses. We're seeing plenty of viruses," Dr. Sheila Nolan told CBS 2's Dr. Max Gomez.
The reason that doctors are concerned about this particular virus strain is that it causes more severe infections that other cold viruses.
"It can cause more severe respiratory disease, particularly in children," Dr. Nolan said, " Severe wheezing, shortness of breath requiring oxygen to maintain their oxygen saturations."
As CBS 2's Dr. Gomez explained, children at the highest risk are those with asthma.
Dr. Allen J. Dozor, the hospital's chief of pediatric pulmonology, cautions parents should not panic, they should stay alert.
"If your child does have asthma make sure you have a good clear, asthma action plan," Dozor told WCBS 880' Sean Adams. "It is serious, but the medications for asthma appear to be working well. The patients are responding to therapy."
While the virus has caused serious illness in a number of children, for most it will be no worse than a bad cold.
"It can cause more severe respiratory disease, particularly in children. Severe wheezing, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath requiring oxygen to maintain their oxygen saturations," Dr. Sheila Nolan with Maria Fareri Children's Hospital told CBS 2's Alice Gainer.
Prevention is the best approach, the same as for the common cold. Good old fashioned hand washing or alcohol based hand sanitizers, avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, and cough into your elbow or a tissue.
Doctors stressed that there is no need to panic, EV-68 is a cold virus, a nasty one, but one that the vast majority of people will recover from completely without any need for special medical attention or hospitalization.
Experts suggested that any child with lung issues be watched carefully, and that in any child wheezing, excessive use of an asthma inhaler, or shortness of breath would warrant a visit to the pediatrician.
If the child really has trouble breathing then a trip to the emergency room is probably a good idea.
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