· Sneezing
· Sore throat
· Mild fever
· Body aches
However, in children with a known history of respiratory problems including asthma, symptoms may be more severe and last longer. Severe symptoms include:
· Wheezing
· Difficulty breathing
· Bluish discoloration of the lips
· High fever
· Vomiting/diarrhea
· Rash
No Need to Panic
In many cases, a child infected with EV-D68 will experience only mild upper respiratory symptoms, such as cough and congestion. Most symptoms only last about a week, and extra TLC is the best treatment. Because EV-D68 is caused by a virus, not bacteria, antibiotics won’t help.
“Many of us will have EV-D68,” says Dr. Michael Fine, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, said in a statement. “Most of us will have very mild symptoms, and all but very few will recover quickly and completely. The vast majority of children exposed to EV-D68 recover completely.”