Dozens Of Children In Chicago Area Being Treated For Enterovirus

(CBS) -- At one hospital alone in Maywood there are 74 suspected cases of enterovirus.

The Chicago Department of Public Health says so far, testing has confirmed 11 cases of the illness, sending children to emergency rooms all over the Chicago area. CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot tells you about the warning signs and what you can do to keep the virus at bay.

Labored breathing is what brought 11-year-old River Johnsons to Lurie Children's Hospital. CBS 2 talked with Johnsons and his mother on Monday.

"It was about 8 o'clock in the evening when he was to lay down. He ate a little dinner. As soon upon laying adown he said he felt like someone was pressing on this chest," said Christina Coleman.

"I was not able to breath and there was nothing I could do about it either. When I was laying down in Indiana I woke up and then I couldn't breathe at all," said River.

Johnsons, who is still hospitalized Wednesday, is one of dozens of children in the Chicago area being treated for enterovirus. Initially, it mimics the common cold, but symptoms soon become worse with wheezing, trouble breathing
along with coughing, a sore throat and a fever. If children have these symptoms, parents should seek medical attention immediately.

"Kids have smaller airways and are more predisposed to having more trouble with the same virus that you or I could get an be perfectly fine, but with kids they're so much smaller, that a little bit of inflammation could be hard for them," said Dr. Zarina Dohadwala of Lurie Children's Hospital.

Enterovirus usually isn't fatal. The best way to combat it, is through frequent hand washing and tell your kids to not touch their eyes, nose or mouth with their hands to avoid spreading the virus.