Enterovirus D68 is a virus that can make you feel like you have a cold. If it's severe, it could also make you wheeze or have trouble breathing, especially if you have asthma or other respiratory problems.
Most cases are mild and last about a week, but if it's severe, you may need to go to the hospital.
This virus isn't new. Experts first identified it in 1962. In the decades since then, it only seemed to impact a very small number of people. That changed in 2014, when the CDC reported a national outbreak.
There are more than 100 other enteroviruses.
Symptoms
You could have a fever, a runny nose, sneezing, and coughing. You might feel achy, too.
It's very rare, but enteroviruses may cause other serious problems, such as muscle paralysis or inflammation of the brain or heart.
Who's At Risk?
Anyone can get it, but children age 6 weeks to 16 years may be especially vulnerable.
Infants and people who have immune system disorders are the most likely to develop severe complications.
How It Spreads
You can catch this virus the same way you would catch the common cold: by having close contact with someone who's infected -- especially if that person coughs or sneezes on you -- or by touching a contaminated surface.
You can lower your chances of getting it by following these tips:
- Wash your hands often. Scrub with soap for 20 seconds.
- Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth unless you've just washed your hands.
- Don't hug, kiss, or share food with anyone who's sick.
- If someone in your house is ill, it's a good idea to regularly disinfect surfaces that are touched a lot, such as toys and doorknobs.
Treatment
No medicines target this virus. Antibiotics won't help, since the illness is not caused by bacteria.
You can take an over-the-counter pain reliever, which might help you feel a little better, just like with a normal cold.
If your symptoms are severe, you should call your doctor or go to the emergency room.
If it's an emergency -- for instance, you're having trouble breathing -- call 911. You may need to be hospitalized.
