Two days ago we told you about the statement that the Generalitat of Catalunya had issued to report that a virus was causing neurological symptoms in some children and both the news and the rumors happen to such an extent that each person who enters the doctor or nurse's office (I work in one, here in Catalonia) asks about the virus and the symptoms with a certain alarm (there are parents who even they have decided not to take the children to school).
As the cases are known, fear increases, and it is that the first known case, dating from February, affected the nervous system of a 3-year-old girl in such a way that stayed quadriplegic. The day before yesterday there was talk of 40 cases and now there are 48, but the enteroviruses of these children are not the same as then.
Everyone flees the enterovirus
The word enterovirus already sounds like a serious illness and every parent with a child who goes to the pediatrician with a little fever asks if they won't have the enterovirus (in fact they ask until they don't have a fever), and as we said the other day, we have been living with them for decades.
Every year thousands of children and adults are infected by enteroviruses and suffer from symptoms such as cough, mucus, fever and inflammation of the pharynx, until they heal alone (The treatment is symptomatic, with paracetamol, ibuprofen ...). Sometimes it also affects the stomach and intestine, causing diarrhea and vomiting, and we even call it "intestinal flu."
Now it seems that compared to other years, some of the enteroviruses are also causing neurological symptoms, in children under 6 years of age, such as tremor, difficulty walking, seizures or severe drowsiness. Fearing that it is the same virus that in February affected the girl we have commented, the Department of Salut has reported that the girl was affected by the enterovirus D68, which is the most aggressive form, while the now 60 cases of neurologically affected children (there are many more children with enteroviruses, sure, but do not suffer from neurological complications) happen by other serotypes such as A71 (two cases) and other enteroviruses of the type TO (15 cases), both less serious.
That the children keep going to school
Today there are 29 children who are hospitalized in different hospitals in Catalonia. Four of them in the Intensive Cures Unit, and one with significant neurological involvement, whose prognosis is uncertain: his father has explained in the media that doctors do not know if he will walk again.
In total they have been detected 60 cases and most evolve favorably. In fact, admission is made both to control the child's health and to prevent contagion from occurring. From yesterday to today, for example, four children have left.
Since although there may be neurological involvement, in most cases the child ends up healing, it is recommended that children continue to go to school and the importance of following common preventive measures in such cases (and in reality those that are always recommended) is stressed.
And it has no cure? When to go to the hospital?
There is no cure or way to prevent the virus with a vaccine because there are very few cases that occur, usually mild, and given so little casuistry, a very difficult study, it is very difficult to create a treatment.
About when to go to the hospital, because when common sense tells us, that's why we just said: there's no cure. If a child suffers an enterovirus infection, he will have the typical initial symptoms, and in such a situation he will return home with the indication of taking anti-thermal agents and go again in case of worsening. If it is resolved, it will not return to the doctor. If it worsens, yes, as we would all parents. Part of that worsening is that the neurological symptoms of drowsiness, tremors, etc. appear, and that's when you have to go to the hospital.
There they will do the relevant tests to determine what is the infection (It could be a bacterial meningitis that does have treatment, for example) and the possibility of administering immunoglobulin, which is a substance that would help the child's immune system, but which remains a cure.
How to prevent infection?
Although we said it the other day, we repeat again the indications to prevent infection:
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water. Proper hand washing is the most important thing to be healthy.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth without first washing your hands.
- Avoid close contact (giving kisses, hugs, sharing glasses or cutlery) with someone who is sick.
- When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth with a tissue or shirt sleeve, not with your hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys or door knobs, especially if someone is sick.
- Stay home if you are sick and do not take children to school if they are sick.
