Freshly born infants hospitalized due to enterovirus, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Infants are particularly vulnerable to severe complications arising from enterovirus infections, which can present with symptoms beyond mild cold-like signs. These severe cases can lead to respiratory distress, neurological problems, and more serious systemic illnesses.

Symptoms of Severe Enterovirus in Infants

Respiratory distress, characterized by wheezing, difficulty breathing, severe cough, and nasal congestion, is a common symptom in severe enterovirus cases in infants. Additionally, neurological symptoms such as acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) – characterized by arm or leg weakness, neck/back/limb pain, difficulty swallowing or slurred speech, facial weakness, drooping eyelids, or difficulty moving eyes – have been reported.

Other possible complications include meningitis, encephalitis (brain inflammation), myocarditis (heart inflammation), and pericarditis (heart sac infection). Common mild symptoms to be aware of include fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough, body aches, sore throat, and in some cases painful mouth sores, such as hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Precautions for Severe Enterovirus Cases in Infants

Early medical evaluation is crucial when an infant shows severe respiratory symptoms or neurological signs. Severe cases may require hospitalization and intensive supportive care, including respiratory support. There is no specific antiviral treatment for severe enterovirus infections.

Preventive measures include frequent handwashing, cleaning contaminated surfaces, avoiding close contact with infected individuals, and maintaining good hygiene practices, as enteroviruses spread via respiratory secretions and fecal-oral routes. Infants, especially those under age 5, children with asthma or weak immune systems, are more vulnerable to severe illness and require closer monitoring.

Recent Cases and Outbreaks

Recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have highlighted the severity of enterovirus infections in infants. Last week, two newborns with severe enterovirus complications were hospitalized. One of the infants, born in the middle of last month, was hospitalized for jaundice and showed a loss of appetite after returning home. The newborn is suspected to have been infected by the mother, who had upper respiratory symptoms before giving birth, and the father, who had a fever at the time.

In addition to enterovirus cases, four cases of leptospirosis were reported last week, including two in southern Taiwan and three in central Taiwan. Four days later, a boy was rushed to a hospital with a rapid heartbeat, low blood oxygen levels, abnormal liver function tests, a low blood platelet count, and a coagulation disorder. The boy's case is still under investigation, but it is suspected that he may have been infected due to exposure to flood water and mud.

A new case of melioidosis was also reported last week, affecting a woman in her 80s from central Taiwan. The woman has hypertension and diabetes and was not directly exposed to flood water or mud. The new melioidosis case was hospitalized in an ICU and tested positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei, the bacteria that causes melioidosis.

Preventive Measures and Awareness

To prevent infection, people should wear protective clothing and wash hands thoroughly when cleaning up flooded environments or areas contaminated by animal urine or feces. People should also inform their doctors about any direct contact with floodwater, mud, or animals when seeking medical attention for a fever and other suspected symptoms.

The CDC Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-hui advised caregivers of infants to pay special attention to signs of severe illness and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Hospitals reported 7,291 visits for enterovirus last week, which is below the epidemic threshold.

Despite these efforts, thirteen enterovirus cases with severe complications, including seven deaths, have been reported so far this year. Eleven of the cases, including the newborns, were infected with echovirus 11, which is the dominant strain over the past four weeks.

In conclusion, while many enterovirus infections are mild or asymptomatic, infants can develop serious respiratory or neurological complications requiring urgent care and supportive treatment. Prevention focuses on hygiene and minimizing exposure to infected persons. Regular monitoring of symptoms and prompt medical evaluation for breathing difficulties or signs of neurological involvement are critical in infants suspected of severe enterovirus infection.

Freshly born infants hospitalized due to enterovirus, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.