Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is a contagious virus that causes respiratory infections, mostly in children and teens. But adults can get it, too. It typically causes mild cold-like symptoms. Unless you or your child are very sick, you might not know you have EV-D68.
Some people who get the virus develop life-threatening respiratory problems. A small number of children with EV-D68 infections develop a nervous system disorder called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). This disorder causes extreme muscle weakness. Rarely, a child with AFM has permanent paralysis.
How does enterovirus D68 spread?
EV-D68 is a contagious virus. You can catch it anytime, but infections are most common from August to November.
The virus lives in mucus, saliva (spit), phlegm in the lungs and stool (poop). It spreads through:
Airborne droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs.
Contact with an infected person’s poop (for instance, when changing a diaper or helping a child use the toilet).
Kissing someone who has the virus.
Sharing eating utensils and cups.
Touching contaminated doorknobs, toys or other surfaces.
What are the symptoms of enterovirus D68?
Children and teens are more likely to have noticeable symptoms of EV-D68 because they haven’t had time to build up immunity to the virus.
EV-D68 typically causes mild cold-like symptoms, such as:
People who have asthma or weak immune systems may develop more severe symptoms. With these conditions, you or your child might have wheezing and difficulty breathing. These symptoms require prompt medical attention.
Can you get enterovirus D68 more than once?
Yes. EV-D68 is like the cold or flu. You can get the virus anytime you’re around someone who has it. However, your immune system gets better at fighting off the virus with each exposure. That’s why adults tend to have mild or nonexistent symptoms when they get EV-D68.
How is enterovirus D68 managed or treated?
Mild symptoms of EV-D68 infection typically improve in a week or two with minimal at-home care. Antiviral medications aren’t effective against this virus.
You can take these steps to ease symptoms:
Drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest.
Take hot, steamy showers or sit in a steamy bathroom to loosen congestion.
People who have breathing difficulties or develop problems like pneumonia need hospitalization. During the 2014 outbreak, 14 people died, and more than 130 children developed acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). There was also a jump in the number of children developing AFM after the EV-D68 outbreaks in 2016 and 2018.
Experts believe the virus may settle in spinal fluid, leading to AFM. Signs of AFM appear suddenly and are similar to that of a stroke:
Arm or leg weakness.
Slurred speech.
Facial drooping.
AFM typically develops a few weeks after a child recovers from a respiratory infection. Seek immediate medical attention if AFM symptoms appear.
How is enterovirus D68 diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider may suspect EV-D68 based on symptoms and reports of outbreaks in the area. A blood test can confirm the presence of an enterovirus.
It takes highly specialized lab tests to pinpoint the EV-D68 virus in a person’s nasal secretions or blood. Your provider may need to send samples to your state’s health department or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to definitively diagnose an EV-D68 infection.
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