- Although it’s not new to U.S., the CDC said it has received multiple reports of cases since May 2022
- Most cases are the PeV-A3 strain, which is most commonly associated with severe disease
- Symptoms may include a fever, rash and respiratory tract infection in children 6 months to 5 years
First the coronavirus. Then the monkeypox virus. Now the parechovirus?
While not new to the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health alert last week warning parents and pediatricians the potentially dangerous pathogen is circulating in the country.
The agency said it has received multiple reports of infection since May and encouraged health care providers to test for it when patients present with certain symptoms.
The CDC said most of the reports consist of the PeV-A3 strain, which is most commonly associated with severe disease. The agency did not say which states reported infections or if there were any deaths associated with the virus.
Here’s what else you should know.
What is parechovirus?
Parechoviruses are common childhood pathogens similar to enteroviruses, like the poliovirus, said Dr. Rick Malley, an infectious disease specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital.
There are four types of the virus, of which only PeV-A is known to cause disease in humans. PeV-A has multiple strains, but PeV-A3 is most commonly associated with severe disease in newborns, the elderly and immunocompromised people, experts say.
Parechoviruses are not new to the U.S, Malley said, but until a few years ago surveillance was limited. So, it’s unclear if they’re more prevalent now compared to previous years.
“They are around us all the time and they have been. They typically cause more diseases in the summer and fall,” he said. “What is slightly unusual is that the CDC is reporting them from a few months back suggesting that … the natural epidemiology of these viruses has changed in the context of COVID.”
Parechovirus rash and other signs, symptoms
Symptoms for parechoviruses can range from asymptomatic to severe illness, experts say.
The CDC said symptoms most commonly seen in children between 6 months and 5 years old include respiratory tract infection, fever and a rash. In infants less than 3 months, symptoms may include with fever, sepsis-like syndrome or neurologic illness, including seizures and meningitis.
Meningitis is inflammation of fluid and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic, and can cause headaches, fever and a stiff neck.
“Any evidence that the child is not thriving, fever, lethargy, irritability, lack of interest in food or in drinking, seizures, uncontrolled movements … those are very important signs that if the parent notices them to immediately contact their physician,” Malley said.
In its health alert, the CDC encourages clinicians to test for parechovirus if infants present with the above symptoms.
How are parechoviruses transmitted?
The CDC says infected people can transmit the virus regardless if they’re asymptomatic or presenting symptoms by coming in contact with feces and through respiratory routes.
A person can be contagious from one to three weeks through the respiratory tract and as long as six months through the gastrointestinal tract, the agency said.
Although someone could be infectious for a long period of time, Malley says the actual illness may only last a few days.
“It’s a spectrum, as we learned with COVID,” he said. “There are some children that recover quickly and other children that seem to have a harder time dealing with it and could be sickened for three to five days.”
But otherwise, Malley called it “a very short-lived, self-resolving infection.”
What should parents do if they think their infant has parechovirus?
There is no specific treatment for parechoviruses but Malley encourages parents to see a clinician if their baby starts experiencing any related symptoms.
It’s important for their doctor to evaluate the severity of disease, he said, and report a positive case to the CDC so experts can better understand the virus’s prevalence in the U.S.
To manage symptoms at home, Malley recommends over-the-counter medication to control the baby’s fever, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and plenty of hydration.
How to prevent parechovirus?
One of the most important ways to prevent parechovirus transmission is to practice good hand hygiene, experts say.
Malley also recommends limiting the number of people outside the household interacting with the baby. Instead of kissing their face and hands, he suggests outside visitors kiss their feet or toes.
“Even though it’s a very happy event to have a child we don’t want a large number of people coming in and picking up the child and kissing the child,” Malley said. “Being aware and being concerned if you happen to have a baby in your home is appropriate.”
Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.
Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.
