Four Lake County children have been diagnosed with enterovirus D68, state health officials confirmed Friday.
Enterovirus D68 is a respiratory illness which can be serious in individuals with underlying medical conditions, such as asthma, officials said.
The children were treated at University of Chicago Hospital and were previously thought to be residents of Illinois. All four children have been discharged from the hospital, according to a news release from the Indiana State Department of Health.
The state health department is working with local health departments and hospitals to conduct surveillance for additional cases of EV-D68. Testing for EV-D68 is being conducted at the state laboratory.
On Tuesday, the state health officials announced a higher than expected level of respiratory illness statewide for this time of year.
Enteroviruses are very common, with between 10 to 15 million cases occurring in the United States each year. There are more than 100 types of enteroviruses. Typically, EV-D68 causes upper respiratory illness, such as low-grade fever, cough, runny nose, sneezing and body/muscle aches.
Infected individuals generally recover on their own without incident by treating symptoms. However, some individuals, especially those with weakened immune systems or underlying medical conditions, such as asthma, may experience severe complications and require hospitalization with supportive therapy.
Enteroviruses, including EV-D68, are spread through close contact with infected people. Individuals experiencing cold-like symptoms and trouble breathing should contact their healthcare provider right away.