Tacking Care Of Children. Enterovirus.

What is the Enterovirus?

The Enterovirus is a type of virus that has mild symptoms most of the time and has been causing outbreaks for over 40 years.

Who are the most affected by this virus?

Children under the age of 6 are the most affected by this virus, eventhough it can affect all ages. This illness can also affect adults although; it is much easier for them to overcome, as their immune system is much stronger than that of children.

Patients heal without any scars in 90% of cases.

How is it transmitted?

The illness is transmitted through the saliva and nasal mucus as the virus is lodged in the mucosa membranes, or through surfaces that have already been contaminated by carriers of this virus.

Where is it mostly transmitted?

Schools, nurseries and at home as well as places where there is a cluster of people.

What are the symptoms?

The most frequent symptoms are:

• Fever.
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting.
• Respiratory Diseases.

However, the Enterovirus that are causing severe problems in Cataluña, Spain that have been named D68 and D71 and that have already affected a large number of children, are due to an outbreak that has been active since February, and that can produce tremors, convulsions, weakness, impaired balance, sensory disturbances, difficulty in speaking and eating, etc.

All of these symptoms are due to the encephalitis that is caused by the virus.

These outbreaks have already been detected in USA and other countries in Asia apart from Spain.

What is the treatment?

There is no current treatment for this virus however, China is developing a vaccine that is pending approval, and so you can only take preventive measures

that should be rigorously adhered to.

What are the preventive measures to be taken?

• Wash your hands rigorously, which should already be done all the times that is needed.
• Cover your mouth with your arm when you are coughing or sneezing.
• Disinfect all the surfaces that are touched by carriers or sufferers of the virus.
• And above all, if children have a fever of more than 37,5 do not take them to school or nursery and go to your GP.

Lastly, I want make an appeal to all of the churches in England, where the congregation drink from the chalice during the celebration of mass, and make them aware of the source of infection that that is.   

Dr. J. Hurtado Martínez

Medical Director of HealthSalus