Virus Hospitalizes NJ 3-Year-Old As CDC Warns Of Severe Symptoms

NEW JERSEY — A New Jersey mom is warning other parents to heed health experts' advice about a virus that affects children, with signs ranging from cold symptoms to more serious problems.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the warning about enterovirus D68 and rhinovirus on September 9. Enterovirus D68 is one of more than 100 non-polio enteroviruses that most commonly infect infants, children, and teenagers. Polio is also a known enterovirus.

Read more: CDC Issues Warning As Polio-Like Illness Spikes In U.S. Kids

Enteroviruses are common, but this strain has caused some children to have severe respiratory distress, according to the New Jersey Hospital Association. A more severe condition, which is uncommon, can affect the nervous system of young children.

The warning came after health care providers and hospitals in several regions of the United States notified the CDC last month of an increase in hospitalizations among children with severe respiratory illness caused by enterovirus D68.

One of those hospitalized was three-year-old Owen O'Neill of Metuchen. His mother Kelley told FOX 29 that she took Owen to the hospital after he began having labored breathing. She said the symptoms began as sniffles and a cough.

"It was awful," she told FOX 29. "Really, really scary."

Kelley said doctors placed Owen on oxygen, and he tested positive for enterovirus and rhinovirus, the FOX 29 report said. He was released several days later, and Kelley is now warning other parents to watch for symptoms.

Enterovirus D68 symptoms can be mild, including a runny nose, sneezing, cough, body aches, and muscle aches. More severe symptoms can include wheezing and difficulty breathing. The CDC recommends you seek medical attention if you or your child develops any of these symptoms, especially after a respiratory illness:

• arm or leg weakness
• pain in the neck, back, arms, or legs
• difficulty swallowing or slurred speech
• difficulty moving the eyes or drooping eyelids
• facial droop or weakness

People with asthma may have a higher risk for severe respiratory illness caused by enterovirus D68, the CDC says.

Adults can get infected with enteroviruses, too, but are more likely to have mild or no symptoms.

"In general, infants, children, and teenagers are most likely to get infected with enteroviruses and become ill," the CDC says. "That’s because they do not yet have immunity (protection) from previous exposures to these viruses. We believe this is also true for EV-D68."

So far this year, the CDC has recorded more enterovirus D68 cases among children with severe respiratory illness than in the past three years combined. There were 84 cases from March through Aug. 4, according to an NBC News report. By comparison, the CDC identified six cases in 2019, 30 in 2020, and 16 in 2021.

While most cases are mild, enterovirus D68 is also known to cause acute flaccid myelitis, a rare but serious neurologic complication involving limb weakness that primarily affects children. Partial paralysis similar to that caused by polio is also a rare complication.

The CDC has not reported an increase in the prevalence of acute flaccid myelitis this year; however, as the virus continues to spread, it's possible the number of acute flaccid myelitis cases will also increase.

None of the confirmed cases of acute flaccid myelitis in 2022 are in New Jersey, as of Sept. 14.

Megan VerHelst contributed to this report from the Patch national desk.