Concerns Intensify on Enterovirus D68 in Massachusetts Implications for Asthma Patients Massachusetts Medical Society / Mass Dept Public Health / CDC Concerns about Enterovirus D68 in Massachusetts intensified this week as patients – primarily children with asthma attacks – presented across the state at numbers higher than expected, said Alfred DeMaria Jr., M.D., medical director for the Bureau of Infectious Disease of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. All indications are that this virus is circulating as a seasonal respiratory virus that is precipitating asthma attacks primarily in children, said Dr. DeMaria in an interview with Vital Signs this Week on Friday. The approach should be like any other bad respiratory virus season and (physicians) should attempt to maximize maintenance therapy of children with asthma. We want to encourage clinicians to keep it in context – for those who are susceptible to complications, it is a serious problem, but most people will have a minor upper respiratory infection. Information on Enterovirus D68, at risk populations and how to minimize transmission can be found in this link from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cdc.gov/non-polio-enterovirus/about/EV-D68.html?s_cid=cdc_homepage_whatsnew_001 As in prior years, as the winter respiratory infection season approaches, asthma patients should optimize their maintenance and emergency action plans, as well as receive an influenza vaccination as part of their prevention strategy to stay healthy this winter. Updates as this issue develops in the coming weeks will be forthcoming through this FB page and the AACM Learning Center at : massallergy.net
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 23:05:47 +0000
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