A rare polio-like illness has affected as many as 25 children in California since the first case was reported in 2012.

At that time, Sofia Jarvis of Berkeley began experiencing wheezing and difficulty breathing. The 2-year-old spent days in the intensive care unit at Children's Hospital Oakland, according to a USAToday.com article.

According to Dr. Peter T. Ender M.D., of Infectious Disease Associates, Bethlehem, there is much unknown about these 20 or so cases in California because they may not even be the same thing.

"Even though they are resulting in paralysis, they may be due to different viruses," Ender said. "I do not know what is causing this.

"The enterovirus can sometimes cause these types of symptoms, but I don't know if that is what is causing these cases of paralysis."

Enteroviruses are often found in the respiratory secretions such as saliva, sputum or mucus, and in the stool of an infected person.

According to Ender, paralysis is a medical finding, not specific to any one cause.

Paralysis can result from being in a car accident, contracting polio-like viruses, having a stroke or damage to the spinal cord, Ender explained.

He said because these children are being described in a way that could be due to a virus similar to polio is why there is some concern.

According to the Centers for Disease Control website, "Most people who get infected with poliovirus do not have any symptoms.

"About 1 out of 100 people will have weakness or paralysis in their arms, legs or both."

Ender said the United States has been able to maintain a high level of polio vaccinations so he doesn't envision polio being a problem down the road as it once was.

"I am not aware of any similar cases like in California being reported on the East Coast," Ender said.

He says if a child should start to exhibit signs of severe weakness or is not using their limbs correctly, parents should seek medical help immediately.

Parents can lessen their children's risk of contracting any illness by teaching them to wash their hands often with soap and water, cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or to cough or sneeze into their sleeve and to stay home from school if they are not feeling well.

If parents have concerns about this or any illness, they should speak with their family physician or their child's pediatrician.

Everyone should be assured the scientific community is studying this new disease and working to discover both the cause and the proper treatment.

Susan Bryant

editorial assistant

Parkland Press

Northwestern Press