Enterovirus fears flood emergency rooms with patients

OAK LAWN, Ill. (WLS) -- As the number of enterovirus cases rises in Illinois and other states, parents concerned that their child may have the illness are flooding emergency rooms.

One hospital in Arlington Heights is among those inundated. Northwest Community Hospital is one of many making special accommodations for these patients, and tonight a doctor who's been tracking those cases from the beginning tells us the outbreak likely has not reached a peak.

At Northwest Community Hospital, 90 percent of patients in the pediatric ward have a respiratory illness.

"I was extremely worried yesterday. He was very sick, coughing a lot, really struggling to breathe," said Patience Faulk, mother of patient.

The influx of patients here because of enterovirus 68 is keeping the ER busy. So much so, they've designated a separate waiting area just for those patients.

"We want to cohort or group patients that might have this virus, so that they don't infect any other people that might want to be in the waiting area," said Dr. George Paul, Northwest Community Hospital.

It's a similar story at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, where concern about the virus is leading some parents to bring their kids to the ER with mere cold symptoms.

"In general, we don't recommend patients go to the ER unless they are having trouble breathing, unless they are having a lot of symptoms," said Dr. Brian Sayger, Advocate Christ Hospital.

The best way to avoid getting sick is frequent hand-washing.

"We are working with families, network offices to make sure there is an abundant supply of soap," said Dr. Stephanie Whyte, Chicago Public Schools' chief health officer.

Dr. Emily Obringer, who helped write the first paper on the outbreak, says the number of cases may not have hit a peak.

"We don't know when it's going to start going down. I think everybody is hopeful that it will be soon. But certainly we want to keep preventing any future cases and prevent the spread of the virus," said Dr. Obringer.

There is no real treatment for the virus - patients have to just wait it out. But doctors can help manage the symptoms.