A three-year-old girl in California has been hospitalized for a month with the coronavirus, but it is a different and less severe strain than the deadly virus that has killed at least 17 in China.Mail Online reports: “Aliyah Cardoza, from Azusa, was hospitalized on December 23 with what appeared to be common flu symptoms including a fever and a cough that escalated to a diagnosis of coronovavirus, Mycoplasma, acute respiratory syndrome and pneumonia.
“A month later, Aliyah is intubated at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles with a breathing tube and a chest tube, her mother Gloria Aguilera said.
“Aliyah was diagnosed with the NL63 strain of the coronavirus, a family of viruses that span from common cold-like symptoms to severe respiratory diseases.
“The NL63 strain is different than the 2019-nCoV strain, also known as the Novel Coronavirus, that killed 17 people and sickened hundreds in China, leading the country to send three cities into lockdown to stop it from spreading.”
“Human coronavirus NL63 was first identified in late 2004 and is a worldwide, common virus related to respiratory tract infections and bronchiolitis. It is common in young children and the elderly.
“It’s believed to be spread through direct person-to-person transmission in highly populated areas.
“Most mild and moderate infections of the virus go away on their own. Infected patients with more severe symptoms can be given antiviral treatment.
“The Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles said it sees cases of coronavirus each year.
“Still, doctors are not sure when Aliyah will be able to return home as her lung recently collapsed and she suffered a seizure on Sunday.”
