Last week, the CDC issued a health alert, warning pediatricians about the potentially dangerous pathogen Parechovirus.
Of the multiple reports of infection the agency received, most were for the PeV-A3 strain, commonly associated with severe disease.
Parechoviruses are common childhood pathogens similar to enteroviruses such as the poliovirus. The CDC encourages health care providers to test for Parechovirus when patients present certain symptoms. Symptoms most commonly seen in children 6 months to 5 years old include respiratory tract infection, fever and a rash. In infants younger than 3 months, symptoms may include fever, sepsis-like syndrome or neurologic illness, including seizures and meningitis.
Read more about Parechovirus here.