What is Coxsackievirus?
Coxsackievirus is the most common virus seen all over the world. It is a single-stranded RNA virus belongs to family Picornaviridae and genus Enterovirus.
It is named after the city coxsackie in Africa where it was first found.
Who is more prone to get affected with coxsackievirus?
• Probability of getting infected is the same in both the sexes.
• Children are more prone to get infection than adults
• People with low immunity.
What are the causes of coxsackievirus?
Infections caused by coxsackievirus are many, depending upon the type of virus,
They are divided into two types,
• Group A: Type A is again subdivided into A1. A2. A3……. A24
• Group B: Type B is again subdivided into B1, B2………B6
Most common infections caused by coxsackievirus are:
1. HAND FOOT MOUTH DISEASE: This is the most common type of contagious disease seen in children below 10yrs.It is caused by subtype coxsackievirus A16.common presentation is,
• High-grade fever and malaise
• Painful fluid-filled blisters around mouth, hands and foot
2. Congenital infection
3. Neonatal infection
4. Respiratory infections like cough, coryza is caused by subtype coxsackievirus A21, A24
5. Herpangina: It is caused by subtype coxsackievirusA6, an infection of the throat with redness and blisters on the tonsils and soft palate.
6. Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis
7. Pleurodyna: It is caused by group B coxsackievirus in which sudden chest pain, fever, abdominal pain, headache which can last for 12 days and clear up by itself.
8. Gastrointestinal symptom
9. Hepatitis
What are the signs and symptoms of coxsackievirus?
It completely depends on the type of infection still common symptoms are,
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Rash-blisters-pustules
• Poor appetite
• Respiratory complaints
• Fatigue
What investigation are advised for coxsackievirus?
• It can be diagnosed clinically
• Viral culture
• Throat swab
• Nasopharyngeal swab
• Stool specimen
What treatment is advised for coxsackievirus?
• No vaccine is available to date.
• Antiviral drugs
• Analgesics
• Anti-inflammatory drug
• Anti-pyritic drugs
What is the mode of spread of infection?
• Direct contact with an infected person
• Droplet infection through sneezing, coughing, face to face contact with an infected person
• Can spread through saliva, feces, fluid in blister, nasal secretions
• Sharing contaminated things like beddings, utensils, toys, etc.
• Unwashed hand
• Sharing food with an infected person
• Pregnant women to newborn
What is the complication of coxsackievirus?
• Myocarditis
• Heart block
• Pericardial effusion
• Meningitis
• Long term fatigue
• Seizure
• Coma
What are the differential diagnoses of coxsackievirus?
• Herpes simplex
• Aphthous stomatitis
• SLE
• Sarcoidosis
What management is helpful for coxsackievirus?
• Wash hands regularly
• Avoid sharing food or bedding with others
• Disinfect dirty surface and soiled items
• Avoid going in crowded place
• Keep yourself hydrated
• Take healthy diet
• Dispose of the tissues and napkin carefully
What are commonly indicated homeopathic medicine for Coxsackievirus?
• Pulsatilla
• Hepar sulphuricum
• Graphites
• Rhus Tox
