2023-09-06 19:04:54
Flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) seasons are approaching, but enterovirus season is in full swing. The Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center (CHU) and the Montreal Children’s Hospital are seeing an increase in hospitalizations related to this virus that can cause meningitis. Newborns are particularly affected.
Enteroviruses usually circulate in late summer and early fall. They can cause various infectious diseases such as hand-foot-mouth, conjunctivitis and viral meningitis. “It is not surprising to see cases of enterovirus [à ce temps-ci]and even to see severe cases, but we find that we have a lot of them this year, ”says Dr. Jesse Papenburg, pediatrician and microbiologist-infectiologist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital.
The Montreal pediatric establishment does not follow the enterovirus epidemic curve on a weekly basis as it does for influenza and RSV. But clinicians in the field are reporting an increase in severe cases in the emergency room as well as hospitalizations linked to this virus.
“We’ve seen infants and older school-aged children, and even teenagers, who had symptoms of meningitis and required hospitalization,” says Dr. Papenburg. He cites in particular the case of a newborn who ended up in intensive care following sepsis (blood infection).
At CHU Sainte-Justine, “many more” newborns infected with this virus were hospitalized this summer compared to previous summer periods, according to Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh, pediatrician and microbiologist-infectiologist. “It feels like a very good enterovirus season,” she said. We are trying to type our enteroviruses to try to understand which ones are at work. »
Since May, member states of the European Union, such as France, Spain, Italy and Sweden, have reported severe cases of infections to the World Health Organization (WHO). to Echovirus 11 enterovirus in neonates. In a bulletin published in July, the WHO estimated, from the “limited information” available to it, “that the risk to public health for the general population is low”.
Dr. Quach-Thanh stresses that she does not want to “alert” parents, but wants the population to be aware of the existence of this virus. “Summer or winter, we don’t go on purpose to see the little infants who have just been born when we have cold symptoms, even if it seems silly,” she says.
Enteroviruses form a large family of viruses, which can manifest themselves through a variety of symptoms: fever, sore throat or headache, runny nose, gastrointestinal disorders, etc. According to Dr. Papenburg, “the vast majority of infections” caused by this virus resolve after a few days and do not necessarily require a medical consultation.
However, you should go to the emergency room when your child shows signs of meningitis, such as fever, severe headache, drowsiness, irritability, photophobia and pain or stiffness in the neck. Tests will determine whether it is viral (caused by enterovirus) or bacterial meningitis.
“The risks of sequelae are really very small when it comes to an enterovirus infection, whereas they are very high in the case of bacterial meningitis,” explains Dr. Papenburg. The latter can lead to deafness – “the number 1 sequel”, he specifies –, neurological problems or even death.
There is no specific treatment for viral meningitis. “Sometimes a solution can help,” says Dr. Papenburg. But it’s time that makes the symptoms pass. »
Dr. Quach-Thanh reminds us that a visit to the hospital is necessary when an infant less than a month old has a fever in order to “rule out” the possibility of a bacterial infection.
As for older children, parents are able to judge whether a medical consultation is necessary, according to her. “We know our children,” says Dr. Quach-Thanh. If we have the impression that it is really out of the ordinary compared to his usual colds and infections, we consult. Not necessarily in the emergency room. We can see our family doctor or our pediatrician. »
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