Ask a Lakes Urgent Care Doctor

Antibiotics are not effective against any type of virus including Enterovirus D68. There is no vaccine for this virus. The best defense is good hygiene and supporting your immune system by eating a balanced diet and getting adequate sleep. If you become concerned that your child may have this severe respiratory illness, you should seek medical evaluation with your primary care physician or a certified urgent care. The staff at Lakes Urgent Care is capable of evaluating and initiating treatment for this virus as well as submitting the required testing to the state immunology lab if indicated.

Enterovirus D68 most commonly causes advanced respiratory symptoms such as persistent cough, wheezing and progressive shortness of breath. Initially, symptoms from this virus may emerge in a typical fashion with fever, rash, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. However, the most significant aspect of this virus is the advanced respiratory illness that it causes in children. It can also have a greater impact on children with underlying respiratory issues like asthma or if they are immunocompromised due to congenital heart disease or other chronic ailments that may impact their immune system.

As with any type of communicable disease, good hand washing is the most important thing you and your family can do to prevent contraction and spreading. The virus is capable of surviving on solid surfaces for several hours. Maintaining a regular cleaning program for community surfaces such as desks, doorknobs and other commonly handled items with a disinfecting solution or wipe, should be adequate to kill the virus on these surfaces. Keep hand sanitizer in many easy to reach places and use it!

This is a rare strain of a common virus, which for unknown reasons has become very active now. The virus is related to the common cold. It is not a new strain of virus and has caused significant respiratory illness specifically with children. There have been no reports of illness in adults related to the D68 Enterovirus.