Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Cocksackie Virus Infection?SymptomsTypesTransmissionTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Cocksackie Virus Infection?
Symptoms
Types
Transmission
Treatment
Coxsackievirusis a type of non-polio enterovirus, like thenorovirusthat leads to digestive tract infection. Coxsackievirus strain A16 is known ashand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD).There are, however, 29 types of coxsackievirus that can cause infection in humans.
Most people recover well from coxsackievirus infection, and HFMD symptoms may go away on their own in a few days.But HFMD also can have fatal complications, includingencephalitis(brain inflammation) and pulmonary edema (fluid in your lungs).Enterovirus D68, another virus in the group, caused a respiratory infection outbreak associated withacute flaccid paralysis.
This article discusses different cocksackievirus types and the conditions they can cause, some of them life-threatening. It offers information about how contagious coxsackievirus can be, how it is spread, and how to prevent infection.
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Altogether, more than 100 enteroviruses have been reported worldwide.Among them are a number of coxsackievirus types that can cause infections in people, including:
Since it was first identified in 2008, coxsackievirus A6 has been causing more severe and atypical cases of HFMD in the United States and worldwide, including in adults.
Some studies suggest that type 1 diabetes may be linked to previous coxsackievirus type B infections.
Coxsackievirus Infection Symptoms
Not all enterovirus infections cause symptoms. and about 50% of people infected with them are symptom-free.However, many people will still experience gastrointestinal symptoms with coxsackievirus, which also can cause:
Children, as well as adults living with compromised immune systems, are typically more at risk of severe complications includingsepsis(systemic infection), andmyocarditis(heart muscle inflammation). They can cause heart and breathing problems like apnea andarrhythmias.
A 2021 review of 237 severe enterovirus infections in newborns identified coxsackievirus B infection in 52% of them. In the overall study, almost a third of these babies (30%) died from complications.Infant coxsackievirus B infections that become severe can be life-threatening and have long-term effects, including permanent heart damage.
Different Coxsackievirus Infections
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How Do You Get Coxsackievirus Infections?
Outbreaks can be hard to control as the coxsackievirus remains in the stool and respiratory tract secretions (saliva and nasal secretions) for weeks after infection. The CDC recommends staying at home with any symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease, but the HFMD virus may be present.
When Is a Coxsackievirus Infection More Likely?Outbreaks of some coxsackievirus infections tend to occur in cycles, while others circulate at low levels each year, especially in tropical climates. In the United States, coxsackievirus infections are more common in summer and fall but can occur throughout the year.
When Is a Coxsackievirus Infection More Likely?
Outbreaks of some coxsackievirus infections tend to occur in cycles, while others circulate at low levels each year, especially in tropical climates. In the United States, coxsackievirus infections are more common in summer and fall but can occur throughout the year.
Can You Get the Flu in Summer?
How Is Coxsackievirus Treated?
There is not yet an antiviral treatment for coxsackievirus infection that leads to HFMD. Respiratory support (oxygen and ventilation) andintravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) therapy have been used in severe cases.
Regardless, handwashing, avoiding respiratory secretions, and disinfecting contaminated surfaces is more important than ever to help avoid getting sick and spreading these infections.
If you are pregnant and think you may have been exposed, the CDC recommends that you contact your healthcare provider.
Summary
Coxsackievirus is a type of enterovirus. There are many strains that lead to infection, including the A6 virus common with infections in adults and the coxsackie virus B types that can lead to severe infection.
About half of all people with an infection have no symptoms. Others may feel ill for a few days but their symptoms improve on their own. In some cases, a coxsackievirus infection can lead to long-term effects or even prove fatal.
Having an infection with one coxsackievirus serotype doesn’t give you immunity to any of the others, so you can, and likely will, get coxsackievirus infections multiple times in your life. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have concerns or questions about coxsackievirus.
15 Sources
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