Parechovirus

Parechovirus is a virus found in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts of humans. Some people carry this around and have no symptoms while others, especially infants, can become sick with a mild illness. In more severe cases the brain can become inflamed (known as meningitis), and a person becomes weak and loses consciousness.

Anyone can get infected with parechovirus. However, babies under three months of age are most likely to become unwell quickly and often require treatment in hospital.

Signs and symptoms

Common symptoms of a parechovirus infection include:

• Fever (temperature higher than 38°C
• Diarrhoea
• Meningitis symptoms (headache, unable to tolerate bright lights, irritability)
• Sepsis-like symptoms (very unwell, high temperature)
• Irritable
• Working hard to breathe / short, shallow breaths
• Small infants will also be lethargic (tired) and may have trouble feeding.

Some parechovirus strains can, rarely, lead to more severe blood infection (sepsis) and neurological infection (meningitis or encephalitis), particularly among young children.

Diagnosis

If parechovirus is suspected, tests will be carried out on your child’s body fluids to confirm the presence of the virus. These may include:

• a faecal (poo) sample
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample (this is collected via a needle inserted into the spinal canal – the procedure is called a lumbar puncture or ‘spinal tap’).

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for parechovirus. Usually only supportive treatment is needed (fluids and paracetamol). 

Some infants may need to be admHow is parechovirus spread?itted to hospital if they are very unwell.  Babies can become unwell very quickly, but most recover after a few days with supportive treatment such as help with feeding.

There is no vaccine to protect you from parechovirus infection.

When to seek help

See your GP if your child has any of the signs and symptoms of parechovirus listed above.

In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

If you're not sure whether to go to an emergency department, call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) and speak to a registered nurse.

How is parechovirus spread?

Parechovirus is usually spread through contact with respiratory droplets (from sneezing or coughing), saliva or faeces (poo) from an infected person.

Preventing the spread

Good hygiene is the best protection.

• Wash hands with soap and water after going to the toilet, after using a tissue or handkerchief, after changing nappies or soiled clothing, after touching an affected area and before preparing or eating food.
• Cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. Wipe the nose and mouth with tissues, dispose of used tissues and then wash your hands.
• People who are unwell with colds, flu-like illness or gastrointestinal illness (diarrhoea or vomiting), illness should stay away from small babies.
• If your child has a parechovirus infection, you should keep them away from school or childcare until they have been symptom free for 48 hours.

Extra precautions during a hospital admission

If your child is in hospital with parechovirus, there will be special precautions in place to minimise risk of spreading parechovirus to other patients. This may include keeping your child isolated in a single-bed room and the use of personal protective equipment such as gloves, gowns and masks while caring for your child. Your child may also have visitor restrictions – check with your child’s care team.

Developed by the Infection Management and Prevention Service, Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Resource ID: FS146. Reviewed: Janurary 2024.

Disclaimer: This information has been produced by healthcare professionals as a guideline only and is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your child’s doctor or healthcare professionals. Information is updated regularly, so please check you are referring to the most recent version. Seek medical advice, as appropriate, for concerns regarding your child’s health.