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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Medical validation:
July 26, 2024
Enterovirus infections are back in France. What are they? What are the risks? How to avoid them? All the advice from Dr. Gérald Kierzek, medical director of Doctissimo.
Public Health France has sounded the alarm: enterovirus infections are on the rise in France. Young and very young children seem to be the most affected.
A worrying number of enterovirus infections
If health authorities are concerned about the resurgence of infections, observed since spring, it is in particular because the number of cases of meningitis is higher this year than in 2023, at the same time.
“The number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for viral meningitis reported by the OSCOUR network also appears to be increasing since the spring compared to the same period in 2023.“, thus affirms Public Health France.”This could indicate an expected summer peak in the coming weeks“, adds the health agency.
However, these enterovirus infections – which usually cause mild or non-specific symptoms such as fever – can be accompanied by severe damage, depending on age, immune status (deficiency of humoral immunity) or the type of enterovirus. These severe forms are manifested by neurological, respiratory, cardiac or digestive damage.
Symptoms of these enterovirus infections
Viral meningitis (aseptic meningitis) is one of the most common enterovirus infections.
“It causes fever, severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck and sensitivity to light“, explains Dr Gérald Kierzek.
But there are other enterovirus infections to be aware of, such as:
- Respiratory infections;
- Hand, foot and mouth disease;
- Herpangina (painful ulcers in the throat);
- Hemorrhagic conjunctivitis;
- myopericarditis;
- Encephalitis (rarer).
Enterovirus meningitis is the leading cause of viral meningitis in children and adults. It occurs mainly in summer and autumn in temperate zones and more frequently affects children, especially infants.
“The diagnosis is based on PCR of the cerebrospinal fluid (It therefore requires an emergency consultation with a lumbar puncture to rule out bacterial meningitis). They are generally benign and resolve spontaneously in a few days. As for the treatment, it is symptomatic (analgesics, hydration)“, notes Dr. Gérald Kierzek.
Public Health France hammers it home: hygiene rules are absolutely essential.
“Reinforcing family and/or community hygiene rules (hand washing, surface disinfection) is essential to limit the transmission of these viruses, particularly to immunocompromised people and pregnant women.“, the agency said.
Fact confirmed by the medical director of Doctissimo.
“Prevention is based on hand and respiratory hygiene. The key message is: if symptoms occur, you should seek emergency medical attention because there is a risk of missing bacterial meningitis,” he advises in conclusion.