Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionPrognosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Prognosis
Eczemacoxsackium(EC) is a viral infection that most commonly affects children who haveatopicdermatitis(a form of eczema). It is sometimes referred to as atypical hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD).EC causes a rash consisting ofvesicles(small fluid-filled blisters),bullae(large fluid-filled blisters), and lesions (patches of wounded skin).
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The EC rash may be painful and include:
In addition to a rash, other symptoms of eczema coxsackium may include:
EC commonly affectschildren who have eczema. That’s because eczema can damage theepidermis(top layer of the skin), leaving it more vulnerable to bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
Eczema coxsackium can also occur with non-eczema conditions that affect the skin barrier, including:
To diagnose eczema coxsackium, a healthcare provider will:
Coxsackium Vs. Herpeticum
Eczema coxsackium is self-limiting, meaning it goes away on its own. It usually clears up within one to two weeks.
There are no specific medications to treat enteroviral infections, so the treatment for EC is supportive care, such as:
The virus that causes eczema coxsackium is highly contagious to people with or without eczema.It is primarilyspread through contactwith the fluid inside the blisters, and droplets from sneezing and coughing. It can also be spread through contact with feces.
To help prevent the spread of eczema coxsackium:
Eczema coxsackium clears up without scarring, and serious complications are rare.Common complications include skin peeling on the palms or soles as the rash heals.
For some people, nail changes may happen one to two months after the infection, including:
Summary
11 Sources
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Maguire E, Hull P.A case of eczema coxsackium.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2018;79(3):AB7. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2018.05.072
Children’s Mercy Kansas City.Atopic dermatitis: infected - eczema coxsackium.
DermNet.Eczema coxsackium.
National Eczema Society.Skin infections and eczema.
Trayer J, Gore C.Severe eczema flare and Coxsackie virus.BMJ Case Reports CP. 2022;15(2):e247656. doi:10.1136/bcr-2021-247656
National Eczema Foundation.Eczema Herpeticum.
Hoffmann AJ, Latrous M, Lam JM.Atypical hand-foot-and-mouth disease. CMAJ. 2020;192(3):E69-E69.
National Eczema Association.Wet wrap therapy.
Saguil A, Kane SF, Lauters R, Mercado MG.Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Rapid Evidence Review. American Family Physician. 2019.
Ventarola D, Bordone L, Silverberg N.Update on hand-foot-and-mouth disease.Clin Dermatol. 2015;33(3):340-346. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2014
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