Coxsackie virus

Coxsackie virus is a type of enterovirus that can cause several different diseases. This virus is part of the Picornaviridae family and is named after the town of Coxsackie, New York, where it was first discovered.

Overview

Coxsackie viruses are divided into two types: Coxsackie A viruses and Coxsackie B viruses. Both types can cause mild to severe illness, although the diseases they cause are different.

Coxsackie A viruses

Coxsackie A viruses can cause hand, foot, and mouth disease, a common childhood illness that causes sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. They can also cause herpangina, an illness characterized by small, blister-like sores in the throat.

Coxsackie B viruses

Coxsackie B viruses can cause pleurodynia, a disease that causes chest pain and fever. They can also cause myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, and meningitis, an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.

Transmission

Coxsackie viruses are usually spread from person to person through fecal-oral transmission. They can also be spread through respiratory droplets from a cough or sneeze.

Prevention

There is currently no vaccine for Coxsackie viruses. Prevention methods include good hand hygiene, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, and disinfecting contaminated surfaces.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for Coxsackie viruses. Treatment is usually supportive and aimed at relieving symptoms.

See also

• Enterovirus
• Hand, foot, and mouth disease
• Herpangina
• Pleurodynia
• Myocarditis
• Meningitis

Coxsackie virus Resources
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