Dear Dr. Garner,

It’s great to hear that your TV show will be returning Oct. 7! Tuesday nights just aren’t the same without “Ask The Doctor!” Thank you for doing the show and this column.

I hope that you will be able to answer my question. I have been hearing a lot about a virus that causes trouble breathing in children. I understand that this is spreading across the country. I am aware that there are cases in New York, and I am worried. My youngest child is 4. Is there anything I can do to help prevent him from getting sick?

Concerned About Viruses

In Astoria

 

Dear Concerned,

Thank you for your kind words about the show, and it’s great to be back! The show will return on Tuesday nights to its regular time slot of 8 p.m. on The NET, which can be seen on Time Warner channel 97, Cablevision channel 30 or streamed live from your computer at netny.tv.

The condition you are talking about is caused by a virus closely related to the common cold known as EVD-68. The virus has been spreading across the Midwest and has been found in New York and Connecticut.

In the vast majority of cases, a child will experience mild flu-like symptoms including low-grade fever, runny nose, sneezing, coughing and muscle aches. In a small percentage of cases, particularly in children with asthma, the symptoms are more severe, including difficulty breathing, wheezing and severe fatigue. The virus seems to affect children with asthma more than others.

As with most viruses, it spreads from person-to-person from a cough, sneezing or infected surfaces contaminated with the virus.

The virus EVD-68 is not that common. It is hard to get an exact handle on how many cases there are as doctors are not required to report this information to health departments. Most facilities cannot do testing to identify this specific type of virus. It can be done at state health departments and at the Centers for Disease Control.

There is no treatment for people with the respiratory illness caused by EVD-68. As with other viruses, aspirin should not be given to children as it may cause a life-threatening condition. There are no medications available to fight the disease.

Many children with asthma and severe respiratory illness who have contracted the virus have required hospitalization. Fortunately, there have been no fatalities as of yet.

Prevention Tips

Parents can help their children by stressing frequent hand-washing. It is also important to avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth. Avoid kissing and sharing cups or other utensils. Remember to disinfect household surfaces frequently as the virus can spread on them.

All of the above would be ideal, however it is virtually impossible to get a small child to follow the recommendations. The main thing is to be vigilant and understand that there is a severe respiratory illness sweeping the county. There is no need for panic. But if you see your child experiencing difficulty breathing, a bluish color to his or her lips or if your child is unable to eat or sleep properly, then it is critical to call your doctor. Prompt treatment may save a life.

While there are no antibiotics or antiviral drugs available, supportive care is very important. Many children who have been admitted to the hospital have been placed on breathing tubes due to the severity of their condition. Intensive care unit admissions have been used for young children with asthma.

Again, it is important for parents to be aware and alert their physician immediately if anything worries them about their child’s behavior including high fever and difficulty breathing.

For those with asthma, it is critical to maintain medication dosages. It is also a good time to get a flu shot. Avoid things that can worsen asthma such as exposure to tobacco and smoke.

Thank you for your question, and I hope that you enjoy what will be our 21st season of “Ask The Doctor.”

Dr. Garner is a Fidelis Care provider who is affiliated with New York Methodist Hospital, Park Slope. He also hosts “Ask the Doctor” on NET TV, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Time Warner Channel 97, Cablevision Channel 30 and Verizon FiOS on Demand.