There is an unusual amount of rhino and enterovirus spreading right now, something like Science Radio be the first to tell.
In rare cases, the virus can cause everything from stomach upset to meningitis.
– When it comes to small children, you should contact 1177 when the general condition deviates from the usual, says virologist Niklas Arnberg.
There is an unusual amount of rhino and enterovirus in circulation right now, says Niklas Arnberg, professor of virology at Umeå University.
– Rhinovirus is the most typical of all cold viruses and often causes infection in the upper respiratory tract. But there are also rhinoviruses that can cause tougher infections in the lower respiratory tract, says Niklas Arnberg to TV4 Nyheterna.
The enterovirus looks similar to the rhinovirus. Most people who are affected recover within a week, without hospitalization or sequelae. But there are exceptional cases.
– It can also cause stomach upset, and in rare cases also meningitis and even encephalitis and blood poisoning, says Niklas Arnberg, who is also secretary general of the Virus and Pandemic Fund.
It is mainly young children and the elderly with underlying diseases, such as COPD, who can become seriously ill.
Urges parents to be vigilant
The professor urges parents to pay extra attention to their children’s general condition if they suffer from cold symptoms.
– When it comes to small children, you should contact 1177 when the general condition deviates from the usual. For example, if the child is very tired, seems to have difficulty breathing, and has a poor appetite, says Arnberg.
In Region Stockholm, rhino and enteroviruses are almost twice as common this year compared to the past five years. The increase is believed to be another “pandemic effect”.
– When we had restrictions, we suppressed many other viruses. We then did not maintain our immunity, at the population level, as we normally do. When the restrictions eased, there are more of us who are more susceptible than normal, says the virologist.
We could see a similar effect last year with, among other things, the RS virus.