They also progress over time. In addition to the viruses we are familiar with, international tourists often bring previously unknown diseases. One of the latest things to shake the peace of many mothers was the Coxsackie virus imported from Turkey, the consequences of which can be very serious. This disease should be eliminated only with the help of specialists and not delay in seeing a doctor. The fact is that the Coxsackie virus, the incubation period of which can vary, can provoke the development of meningitis, paralysis or serious complications in the heart.
Definition
How long the incubation period of the Coxsackie virus lasts depends on the patient’s health, his age and the type of infection itself. The fact is that Coxsackie includes a whole group of pathogenic microorganisms of 30 different species. All these enteroviruses are localized in the digestive system and, in addition to actively influencing it, provoke inflammation of other vital organs in the body. The Coxsackie virus, the incubation period in adults takes a similar time to children, but appears much less frequently. The risk group is considered to be children aged about five years, older ones are less common. This is due to the ways the infection spreads among people.
Spread of the virus
Before the Coxsackie virus appears in full force, it enters the body several days. Is the Coxsackie virus contagious during the incubation period? Without a doubt. Already at this time, the child may become lethargic and irritable, but no obvious signs of infection will be visible.
How is the Coxsackie virus transmitted? It is much easier for children to get the infection, since it is most often spread by airborne droplets. And since children do not yet have a very strong immune system, they can become infected simply by walking down the street.
In addition to younger age, another method of infection is determined - through dirty hands. It is babies who very often put unknown objects into their mouths, wanting to taste the world. Any disregard for personal hygiene rules increases the risk of nutritional infection with the virus.
Hidden period
Before the Coxsackie virus manifests itself, it already lives in the patient’s body for two to ten days. The incubation period of the Coxsackie virus in children is determined depending on the age of the baby and the weakening of his immunity. It is almost impossible to notice the disease at this stage. The baby may be more tired and more capricious, but mothers often attribute this behavior to a bad mood or lack of sleep, rather than a manifestation of a serious infection. As soon as the disease enters the active phase, the symptoms of infection become very pronounced.
How does the Coxsackie virus begin in children? Regardless of its classification, the infection first attacks the gastrointestinal tract, where it spreads, and after that all the symptoms comprehensively indicate the manifestation of influenza or tonsillitis. It is very important not to self-medicate, but to seek help from a specialist who can accurately determine the class of the virus and prescribe the necessary treatment.
Classification of infection
The Coxsackie virus, the incubation period of which can vary depending on whether it belongs to a particular class, is a rather dangerous disease. Each class has approximately the same number of viruses, which are summarized under one name. Conventionally, pathogenic microorganisms are divided into classes A and B. The first is the most common and is relatively safer. Infections of this class can provoke acute meningitis in the body with possible consequences for the nasopharynx, nose and larynx. The disease is complex, but the second class carries an even greater danger.
Coxsackie virus, group B consequences include:
- paralysis;
- brain dystrophy;
- disruption of the heart and blood vessels;
- weakening of the myocardium.
Symptoms
How does the Coxsackie virus occur? This cannot be said for sure. The fact is that it is characterized by a certain set of symptoms that can manifest in patients complexly or individually. One should definitely highlight the increase in body temperature, which is very difficult to break down and can reach 40 degrees. In parallel with it, headaches, body aches and fevers appear, but babies can rarely express these feelings in the right words.
It is interesting that the virus most often manifests itself atypically, that is, it is impossible to guess what exactly will be a sign of the disease in a particular child. An accurate diagnosis in such cases can only be made based on test results, which means that at the first signs of infection you must immediately contact a specialist.
Despite the fact that the virus is localized in the intestines, its obvious disorder may not be observed in the child. The frequent uncharacteristic course of the disease is accompanied in different children by nephritis, symptoms of respiratory diseases, conjunctivitis, pancreatitis, hepatitis and other inflammations of internal organs.
Typical symptoms of the virus include:
- aseptic meningitis;
- foot-hand-mouth syndrome;
- herpetic sore throat;
- enteroviral exanthema.
Danger for adults
The Coxsackie virus also has an incubation period of several days in adults, but the disease is generally very rare. The infection in adult patients manifests itself mainly as intestinal disorders. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which are additionally reinforced by existing chronic diseases, can be considered characteristic.
Particular attention should be paid to the manifestation of:
- fever;
- inflammation of the pharynx and nasopharynx;
- hemorrhagic rash;
- loss of ability to work;
- temperature rise.
Danger for children
The Coxsackie virus, the incubation period does not affect this, is very dangerous for young children. In infancy, infection contributes to the development of anorexia and shortness of breath, caused by prolonged diarrhea and vomiting against a background of general weakness of the body. It is very difficult to predict the time of getting rid of pathogenic organisms and further consequences. In this case, the result can only be achieved by timely diagnosis and correct treatment.
In children of preschool and primary school age, the infection manifests itself in the form of tonsillitis. It is impossible to determine it accurately at first glance; doctors, who rarely encounter this disease, simply diagnose the child with acute inflammation in the throat.
The infection is accompanied by:
- strong increase in temperature;
- ulcers on the mucous membrane and larynx;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- loss of appetite;
- sore throat;
- skin rashes.
It is interesting that a characteristic distinguishing feature of a common sore throat - skin rashes - may not appear immediately, but only after the child has been examined by a doctor and made an incorrect diagnosis. In such cases, it is very important to seek help again to clarify the disease and its treatment.
Course of infection
The incubation period of the Coxsackie virus in children does not accurately determine how exactly the disease will progress in a particular child. Depending on the internal organ in which the source of infection is localized, the course of the virus can vary in severity. The mildest form is considered to be influenza-like. Almost all of its symptoms indicate acute ARVI, influenza or a severe cold. In addition to this, a characteristic rash appears on the baby’s body. It can appear in any part of the body and even in the scalp. Transferring this form is considered the easiest version of the disease, since it does not cause any serious complications.
Moderate in severity, herpetic sore throat should be distinguished, which manifests itself with all the symptoms characteristic of this disease.
Poliomyelitis-like infection has acute forms. It is observed as progressive severe paralysis.
The intestinal form also has complications. It is accompanied by pronounced disorders, in parallel with which characteristic blisters form on the skin. Outwardly, they look a little like chickenpox and also cause itching. Over time, crusts form in their place.
Long-term consequences
Most patients diagnosed with the virus experience a deterioration in the condition of their nails after undergoing the disease. It manifests itself in their delamination, change in color or shape. All nail plates or only some may be affected at once, but as new ones grow, the problem completely goes away. Coxsackie virus incubation period from active infection to obvious nail damage ranges from two to eight weeks. Most scientists attribute this to the usual decrease in immunity after illness and a lack of microelements; there are no clear signs that the deterioration of nails is directly affected by the virus, but a connection is observed.
Diagnosis of infection
For a specialist to make an accurate diagnosis, an external examination of the patient is not enough. The classic anamnesis is observed when taking tests of biological fluids of the body. Most often, this is blood, urine, but on the recommendation of a specialist, sputum, tear secretions, and so on may additionally be required.
A characteristic manifestation of the virus in the body is an increase in antibody titer several times. Hemagglutination and complement binding tests are also performed.
Only after an accurate diagnosis should the doctor prescribe treatment according to the existing symptoms.
Treatment procedure
Treatment of the Coxsackie virus during the incubation period is strictly prohibited with antibiotics. The fact is that antibacterial agents are ineffective against this group of infections and can only be prescribed to prevent the occurrence of serious complications. The treatment itself is carried out symptomatically with medications of different pharmacological groups.
To eliminate inflammation in the throat, patients are prescribed external antiseptics. Depending on the mother’s preferences and the presence of allergic reactions to certain medications, a solution of furatsilin, miramistin or other sprays may be prescribed.
The high temperature must be brought down. For children, various medications based on ibuprofen and paracetamol are used, alternating them if necessary. For very young children, syrups or suppositories are used, and for older children, you can take tablets.
When the body is infected with a virus, it is imperative to stimulate its immune system to naturally fight back the disease. For this, children are prescribed immunomodulatory drugs such as Viferon, Anaferon or Cycloferon.
The presence of skin rashes should be eliminated with topical antihistamines, since such blisters cause severe itching and irritation. As an addition to medications, you can use decoctions of soothing herbs to rinse your baby's irritated skin.
Serious intestinal disorders must be stopped as quickly as possible so as not to provoke dehydration. Specialists often prescribe sorbents of various medicinal forms for this purpose, but in case of severe symptoms of intoxication, taking them alone is not enough. In such situations, the child requires emergency assistance, which can be provided by the drug "Regidron". It is available in powder form for preparing a drinking solution. Taking this product normalizes water-salt metabolism in the body, but the taste of the solution is unpleasant for children. That is why mothers should strictly control the process of taking medications. The advantage of this drug is its affordable price, in comparison with its effectiveness, and ease of preparation.
After an illness, the intestinal microflora always needs restoration, which can be accelerated by the time-tested drug Linex. This product is suitable for young children and effectively replenishes beneficial bacteria in the body. Plus, the capsule powder has a pleasant taste, acts quickly and is based only on natural ingredients. The recovery course is usually about a week.
If there are consequences after the disease in the form of damage to the nail plates, it is necessary to take a course of mineral and vitamin complexes to enrich the body with the missing elements. Regenerating ointments should also be used topically to promote rapid healing.
Dangerous consequences
Many people are interested in how the Coxsackie virus is transmitted, but not everyone knows about its danger if the problem is ignored. So why should you immediately seek professional help? Enterovirus of the Coxsackie type, under medical supervision and with proper treatment, can go away without a trace, especially if it is mild.
In the case of a serious course of the disease, complications such as:
- encephalitis;
- meningitis;
- paralysis;
- diabetes;
- heart failure.
Preventive measures
How to protect yourself from the Coxsackie virus? There are simply no special specialized events for this. First of all, it is necessary to observe all the rules of personal hygiene, thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits before eating. In addition, you should avoid crowded places during the epidemic, since the disease is airborne. In addition, you should carefully monitor your baby’s health, try to strengthen his immunity before he gets sick, and seek medical help at the first sign.
The reassuring information for parents is that having recovered from the virus once, the baby receives lifelong immunity to this infection and will not encounter it again.
But be that as it may, in order not to become infected with any virus, you need to constantly monitor your health. Namely, lead a healthy lifestyle, adhere to proper nutrition, and also regularly visit qualified specialists. And then you and your children will be healthy.
Coxsackievirus is an enterovirus that lives in hot climates. Let's look at the signs, symptoms and treatment of the Coxsackie virus in adults and children, as well as nutrition and preventive measures.
Coxsackie virus photo
Annually recurring seasonal epidemics of acute respiratory diseases do not cause particular concern. It’s another matter if you have to deal with viruses that are rarer in our latitudes. The Coxsackie virus is an enterovirus that lives in hot climates, but also thrives in cold regions. Disease epidemics associated with it may be associated with travel abroad. The symptoms of the Coxsackie virus can easily be confused with regular flu, chickenpox and other diseases, so it is important to know the specifics of its effect on the body.
What is Coxsackie virus
The virus got its name in honor of the city of the same name, which is located in New York state and where it was first studied back in the late forties. It belongs to the group of enteroviruses, but differs from many others in its specific manifestations and complications. The Coxsackie virus manifests itself especially severely in children due to underdeveloped immunity.
Like other enteroviruses, it is activated in warm weather, although it easily tolerates a decrease in temperature. There are a huge number of strains, so after a single illness, long-term immunity does not form. All subspecies are conditionally divided into two groups - A (CVA) and B (CVB).
It is believed that strain A is more dangerous because it leads to the following complications:
- herpetic sore throat;
- pleurisy and viral pneumonia;
- muscle paralysis;
Studies have found that severe consequences develop in 80% of cases. Laboratory mice that were infected with subtype A died from meningitis, muscle paralysis, and severe pneumonia. Pregnant females experienced miscarriages.
Type B was characterized by a lower percentage of complications; up to 60% of laboratory rodents survived infection without consequences. However, in cases where additional symptoms developed, the following secondary diseases appeared:
- pericardial effusion - congestive heart failure with cardiac edema;
- hepatitis;
Coxsackievirus can develop in any of these types, although in most cases there are no serious consequences in people. Normally, the disease manifests itself at the level of a “regular” intestinal flu, plus specific symptoms characteristic of this particular pathogenic microorganism. Some doctors believe that the transferred Coxsackie virus in children affects the development of diabetes mellitus in adulthood, but this assumption still remains at the level of a medical hypothesis.
The greatest spread of the Coxsackie virus is observed in warm countries. It appears on the territory of our country as a result of vacations and travel. For example, there have been many cases of the disease brought from Turkey, where this virus is endemic.
Doctors do not consider the Coxsackie virus to be too dangerous, and it is pointless to vaccinate against it due to the fact that new mutations of the main strains constantly arise. Children under five years of age and adults with weakened immune systems are at risk for the disease, however, with a large accumulation of the infectious agent, epidemic situations similar to influenza or ARVI in the autumn-spring period are possible.
Causes and methods of transmission
Among childhood infections, the Coxsackie virus occupies a special place due to its extreme contagiousness. Its contagiousness reaches 98%, which is five to ten times higher than most other enteroviruses - that is, those species that develop in the human intestine. The incidence is seasonal both in those countries where it is endemic and in our country, where it is “brought” by vacationers abroad.
The virus is resistant to the environment; freezing does not affect it. It can survive in soil or water for up to two years. It is destroyed by direct sunlight, boiling for at least 20 minutes, and exposure to chlorine-based disinfectants. Many people are accustomed to disinfecting suspicious objects and surfaces with alcohol or vodka, but in this case, ethanol-containing liquids are ineffective.
Despite the fact that, in its origin and structure, the Coxsackie virus is the closest “relative” of polio and is transmitted in a similar way, it rarely causes severe consequences.
However, you should beware of the same sources of infection:
- Dirty hands are the first way to “catch” the Coxsackie virus. Ordinary soap and hygiene products do not cause any harm to the strains.
- Poor quality food. The virus can survive for a long time in meat, vegetables, fruits and other food if it was prepared by an infected person. Boiling helps destroy the source of the disease.
- Household items - towels, toothbrushes. Since this childhood infection is an intestinal virus, there is a high risk of transmission in dirty bathrooms, especially if there are both a toilet and toothbrushes in one small area. This arrangement of plumbing fixtures is typical for mid-price hotels, which is an additional risk factor when traveling.
- Bed linen and clothing. The virus remains active on fabric even after normal use; it can only be killed by adding additional disinfectants or boiling.
- Direct contact with the sick person. Infection occurs when you are in the same room with an infected person with a probability of up to 98% percent. Five to ten minutes or any close contact is enough - a handshake, hugs, kisses. At the same time, in adults, the disease can occur in a mild, aborted form, and the person will not even know that he is dangerous to the child.
- The use of shared utensils is another cause of epidemics in hotels where these common items are not washed well enough. A single sick person can spread the virus to an entire hotel, kindergarten, camp and any space where the same utensils are used by different people.
Airborne transmission of the Coxsackie virus in children is relatively rare, although doctors believe that this is one of the causes of epidemics in schools, kindergartens or camps. The basic one remains fecal-oral, however, compared to other infectious agents, strains of this virus are more survivable and have an extremely high ability to infect the human body.
The Coxsackie virus constantly circulates in the population, since a person who has recovered from the disease remains a carrier of the infection for two to three months after the disappearance of symptoms. In view of all these factors, disease prevention becomes quite a difficult task. It is considered an “exotic” infection, but cases of the disease occur every year, and doctors are well able to identify the virus by its characteristic clinical picture.
Symptoms
Most enteroviruses provoke diarrhea and vomiting - this is a basic characteristic symptom that comes from the location of the microorganisms, their method of reproduction and nutrition. The Coxsackie virus is an exception: it does not always provoke diarrhea, but is characterized by a specific symptom complex. Its manifestations may differ depending on type A or B, this should also be taken into account.
There are common symptoms of the Coxsackie virus:
- Heat. What distinguishes this disease from “ordinary” diseases - ARVI, influenza - is that it is very difficult to bring down a fever. Traditional remedies do not work, and the temperature can reach critical levels - forty degrees and even higher.
- Headache - it has a characteristic pressing character; if a very small child is sick, he will cry constantly.
- Aches and muscle soreness, which is much more intense than during the flu, since the Coxsackie virus is a “relative” of polio, although not as malignant.
- General weakness, loss of appetite, rarely - nausea.
- Children often experience constipation, which distinguishes Coxsackie from other enteroviruses that provoke the opposite symptoms.
- On the second or third day, characteristic rashes appear on the legs and arms. This rash is similar to rubella or chickenpox, leading some doctors to misdiagnose it.
Further, manifestations may differ depending on the type of virus and those organs in which the pathological process develops most intensively. Type A is characterized by a clinical picture with intense involvement of the skin and mucous membranes.
Therefore, symptoms include:
- Herpetic sore throat - this complication almost always occurs in children. The mucous membranes are affected by characteristic rashes that are extremely painful.
- Conjunctivitis with photophobia, severe lacrimation. The eyes are red.
- Stomatitis is painful sores in the mouth, most often on the gums and tongue.
- Skin manifestations are very pronounced - up to the appearance of large blisters filled with serous exudate.
- Paralysis that develops at lightning speed and passes just as quickly when cured. However, there is a risk of paralysis of the respiratory system, as well as serous meningitis as a complication.
These manifestations develop rapidly and pass just as quickly. Type B virus is characterized by a longer course and the following specific clinical picture:
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Sometimes, after one or two days of constipation, diarrhea may occur, with stool that is dark brown in color and foul-smelling.
- Abdominal pain, which feels more like a “general” pain, because the virus affects not only the intestines, but also other organs of the abdominal cavity.
- If the liver is damaged, this organ becomes enlarged, heaviness in the right side, and the mucous membranes may become jaundiced.
- Shortness of breath and drowsiness - indicates a malignant course of the disease with the development of complications in the heart.
As with other viral diseases, Coxsackie manifests itself abruptly, with symptoms increasing over several hours. Normally, all manifestations pass just as quickly, the disease does not last more than three to seven days. Longer manifestations indicate a severe course of the disease, and may also indicate the addition of a bacterial infection.
The disease is considered “childhood”. Most often, the Coxsackie virus affects babies from three to five months to five years; infants get sick less often due to maternal immunity received from milk, but those who eat substitutes are at risk.
Sometimes doctors mistake coxacovirus infection for chickenpox due to the characteristic rashes. Specificity will help to distinguish: with Coxsackie, the feet are always affected, so the child may complain of pain when walking, while the skin manifestations of chickenpox are distributed less specifically.
The following measures are applied to sick children:
- If the course of the disease is favorable, no specific treatment is required. Measures should be aimed only at getting rid of unpleasant symptoms.
- Antipyretics must be used. It is worth remembering that they act worse than with regular flu. You cannot increase the dose on your own; if you cannot bring down the temperature, you should consult a doctor.
- The rashes in the mouth, arms and legs are very painful. To alleviate the condition, it is necessary to use local antiseptics. It is recommended to limit solid foods so as not to injure the throat and oral cavity. The child is fed purees and cereals.
- Drinking plenty of warm fluids is one of the best ways to effectively help the deist body cope with the Coxsackie virus. You can use teas, if you are not allergic, with the addition of citrus fruits.
- The use of sorbents is recommended - activated carbon, Enterosgel. This helps remove the intestinal virus from places where it accumulates.
Adults should provide the child with bed rest and maximum rest. The room in which the sick baby is located should be dim, well ventilated, and at room temperature.
You should closely monitor for the appearance of dangerous symptoms, such as:
- rigidity of the muscles of the neck and back of the head - indicates the development of meningitis;
- paralysis;
- labored breathing;
- repeated painful vomiting - it indicates a severe hepatitis form;
- dyspnea;
- a decrease in blood pressure is a signal of the disease transitioning to myocarditis.
Doctors believe that a child is normally quite capable of contracting the Coxsackie virus disease on an outpatient basis. Inpatient intervention may be necessary only if complications occur.
Coxsackievirus in adults
Adults get sick with Coxsackie less often and tolerate the disease much easier. However, the development of complications may be caused by a nonspecific reaction of the immune system, especially if it was previously compromised or weakened by other diseases.
Symptoms in adults are usually mild:
- temperature rise to 38.5 - 39 degrees;
- headache;
- general weakness;
- diarrhea;
- rashes do not always appear.
The disease in adults lasts two to three days, after which it passes without a trace, but the person remains a carrier of the infection and poses a danger to others, especially children. Therefore, bed rest and avoiding contact with healthy people are important. It is precisely because of the extremely high contagiousness that it is undesirable for adults to endure the disease “on their feet.”
How to treat
There is no specific treatment. In the vast majority of children and adults, the disease goes away on its own within two to seven days, without requiring any measures other than those aimed at general improvement of the condition and detoxification of the body.
For more severe disease, the following medications can be used:
- Interferons - for general antiviral action.
- Antipyretics should contain ibuprofen or paracetamol. Aspirin is contraindicated.
- It is imperative to replenish fluid loss; if there is not enough drinking and dehydration is detected, infusion therapy is carried out.
- The use of sorbents is recommended for any course of the disease; they help remove the virus from the body.
- External remedies are used against ulcers to relieve pain and itching.
- General strengthening agents - vitamins, micronutrients - will help cure the Coxsackie virus.
Antibiotics for the Coxsackie virus are used only in the case of a secondary bacterial infection. Self-prescription of potent drugs is unacceptable. If severe complications develop, damage to the central nervous system or cardiovascular system, hospital treatment is necessary.
Nutrition
A proper diet helps the body cope with infection. In the case of Coxsackievirus, nutrition plays an additional role due to rashes in the throat or mouth that make eating difficult. Patients almost always experience a lack of appetite, so it is important to adhere to the optimal menu:
- Food should be high in calories, but easily digestible, without excess fat or carbohydrates.
- Dishes are prepared in crushed form to make it easier for the patient to eat them.
- Preference is given to soups, cereals, and purees. It is unacceptable to eat food that is too hot or cold.
- Spices, spices and other substances that irritate the mucous membranes are completely excluded.
- It is necessary to ensure the supply of vitamins and probiotics, so it is advisable to consume boiled or steamed fruits and vegetables, as well as fermented milk products.
The right diet for the Coxsackie virus will help you quickly cope with the viral infection and return to normal. It is advisable to eat small portions several times a day, even if you have no appetite. If a child with Coxsackie completely refuses to eat, it is necessary to persuade him to at least drink warm liquid in large quantities. Normally, appetite returns within a day or two.
Prevention in children and adults
It is difficult to prevent the development of the disease due to the high contagiousness of the Coxsackie virus. If one person in a family gets sick, most likely everyone will be infected. However, there are still ways to protect yourself from an unpleasant disease.
Most of them come down to maintaining hygiene rules and include the following measures:
- When traveling to the seaside in countries affected by the virus, choose reliable holiday destinations where all rules for disinfecting bed linen, plumbing, and dishes are followed.
- Do not allow water from the sea, swimming pools, or lakes to get into your mouth or nose.
- You can only drink boiled or bottled water.
- You should not buy food from a suspicious place if hygiene is in doubt. It is especially important not to feed such food to children.
- Wash vegetables and fruits with hot water, ideally scald with boiling water.
- Carefully monitor personal hygiene and teach your child to do this.
Sometimes an additional course of immunomodulators is recommended before traveling to countries where Coxsackie viruses are common. But this decision should be made after consultation with a doctor, especially if we are talking about a baby whose body’s defenses are still in the process of formation.
Izvozchikova Nina Vladislavovna
Gastroenterologist, Infectious disease specialist, Pulmonologist
Experience: 36 years
1975-1982, 1MMI, San-Gig, highest qualification, infectious disease doctor
The Coxsackie virus belongs to the enterovirus family (intestinal viruses). It is an RNA virus. It was first isolated in the USA in 1950.
Today, the Coxsackie virus is divided into two groups - virus A and B, each of which contains serogroups that differ in antigenic properties. They are quite stable in the environment, but are sensitive to the action of sunlight and solutions of disinfectants (bleach, chloramine), which destroy them almost instantly. When boiling water they die within 20 minutes.
Children aged three to 10 years are susceptible to infection; infection most often occurs at four to six years of age. This infection is common in countries with temperate climates, where the incidence is higher in summer and autumn. After an infection, stable immunity is not formed.
Coxsackie virus is the causative agent of hand-foot-mouth syndrome (or enteroviral vesicular stomatitis with exanthema) - a symptom complex consisting of damage to the oral mucosa - enanthema and the appearance of a rash on the upper and lower extremities - exanthema.
The incubation period from the moment of infection to the appearance of the first signs of the syndrome lasts four to seven days.
Mostly the Coxsackie virus manifests itself as intestinal dysfunction, diarrhea, general intoxication and a characteristic rash. The course of the infectious process in general, but there are cases of complications.
A person can become infected from another sick person, and often from a virus carrier. People often catch the infection in hotels in Turkey, Cyprus or other holiday destinations. The Coxsackie virus, like the influenza virus, is transmitted by airborne droplets. The second way of entry into the body is nutritional. Shared utensils and dirty hands can become a source of infection. Infection from unwashed fruits and vegetables is possible. The most likely way the virus enters the body is through the upper respiratory tract.
Depending on the predominant localization of the virus, the disease can develop in different directions.
Flu-like form
It is called summer flu or three-day fever. This is the mildest course of the disease. The symptoms of the disease are very similar to ARVI. The period of infection development is about three to four days. The body temperature can rise to 39-40˚ C, but in a short time everything passes without consequences, and the child recovers.
Enteroviral exanthema
The main distinguishing feature of this form is a rash on the arms, chest and head. The bubbles that appear burst and form crusts. In these places, the skin may peel and flake off. At the same time, the child’s body temperature rises. This manifestation of the disease is often confused with rubella or chickenpox. But it passes, like the flu-like form, quite quickly - from three to five days and without consequences.
Herpangina
The incubation period for such an infection is one to two weeks. In this case, the virus infects the mucous membrane of the pharynx. Signs of the disease: high fever, weakness, sore throat. Although this form is called angina, there are no symptoms of the usual form of tonsillitis. The condition is aggravated by headache. The lymph nodes may become enlarged and a runny nose may develop. Unlike classic sore throat, bubbles with liquid appear on the mucous membrane of the tonsils and oral cavity. After a while they burst. Upon examination, you can observe a cluster of small erosions covered with a white coating. The disease is even more similar to stomatitis than to a sore throat. All symptoms disappear in about a week.
Hemorrhagic conjunctivitis
It develops at lightning speed - no more than two days pass from the moment of infection to the first signs. This form of infection is characterized by a feeling of sand in the eyes, pain, photophobia, lacrimation, swelling of the eyelids, numerous hemorrhages, and purulent discharge from the eyes. Usually one eye is affected first, then symptoms appear in the other eye. At the same time, the patient feels relatively well. The illness lasts for two weeks.
Intestinal form
Symptoms are typical for intestinal infections: dark diarrhea (up to eight times a day), vomiting. The condition is aggravated by abdominal pain and fever. In young children, in addition to intestinal symptoms, a runny nose and sore throat may begin. Typically, diarrhea lasts from one to three days, complete restoration of intestinal functions occurs after 10-14 days.
Poliomyelitis-like form
All manifestations are similar to polio. But unlike it, paralysis develops at lightning speed, it is not so severe, the affected muscles recover quickly. With this form, as with others, all the classic symptoms of infection with the Coxsackie virus may be observed: rash, fever, diarrhea.
Hepatitis
The Coxsackie virus can attack liver cells, which increase in size, and there is a feeling of heaviness in the right side.
Pleurodynia
The disease manifests itself in the form of muscle lesions. When the virus settles in the muscles, myositis develops. Pain is noted in different parts of the body. Very often, painful manifestations are localized in the intercostal muscles. In this case, breathing may be difficult, but the pleura is not damaged. When walking or performing any other movements, the pain intensifies. Usually they are wavy in nature (repeated after a certain period of time). This form is quite rare.
Heart problems
Endocarditis, pericarditis, and myocarditis may develop. Chest pain and weakness are noted. The disease develops when infected with type B viruses. A very severe form. Blood pressure may drop, temperature may rise, and the child constantly wants to sleep. Manifestations of tachycardia, shortness of breath, arrhythmia, edema and liver enlargement are also common.
Serous meningitis
In another way, this type of meningitis is called viral, as it occurs as a result of a viral infection. It can be caused by various viruses, including the Coxsackie virus.
In general, infection with the Coxsackie virus occurs without complications. But in some cases the disease has consequences.
To date, no vaccine has been obtained for the Coxsackie virus, as well as for other enteroviruses. The only prevention is personal hygiene. It is advisable for the child to spend less time in crowded places, especially during the epidemic period.
The material was prepared based on information from open sources
Photo: Stephanie Frey/Rusmediabank.ru
This summer, our media, without saying a word, are loudly trumpeting the dangers of holidays in Turkey due to a massive outbreak of the disease caused by the Coxsackie virus. Many tourists, even if they have not encountered manifestations of this disease on vacation, thanks to the incubation period of the disease, often bring this “joy” home and get sick at their place of residence, infecting more and more people who have been in contact with the sick people. The most unpleasant thing about this disease is that it mainly affects children aged 2 to 10 years; adults get sick much less often. To figure out whether “the devil is as terrible as he is painted,” we had to conduct a whole mini-investigation, studying the medical-theoretical part of the issue and asking for the opinions of victims of the harmful virus. Having summarized the information received, I would like to offer you a brief summary on this matter.Firstly, type "Coxsackie virus" have been known for quite a long time. A similar virus was first isolated and described back in 1950 during an outbreak of a disease in children resembling a mild form of polio in an American town Coxsackie, hence the name. Currently, there are more than 30 similar intestinal viruses, which are divided into groups A and B depending on the clinical manifestations of the disease and the location of lesions in patients.
Both types of viruses enter the human body through the mucous membranes of the mouth and intestines, which is accompanied by febrile state with high temperature, rash of various locations, upper respiratory tract diseases, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. After the virus enters the bloodstream, infection of nerve cells also occurs. In people with weakened immune systems, skin rashes can spread to the thighs, buttocks, genitals, and involve the scalp and ears. It is also possible to develop eczema coxsackie» – severe extensive skin lesions with the formation of blisters with serous or serous-purulent contents.
However group A viruses usually called herpangina, stomatitis And acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, while group B viruses can additionally infect the heart, pancreas, liver and pleura, causing the development myo- and pericarditis, hepatitis, pleurisy And pleurodynia(inflammation of the pectoral intercostal muscles). In rare cases, infection with both groups of viruses can result in inflammation of the meninges such as meningitis And meningoencephalitis(which, by the way, can be observed in many other viral and bacterial infections) and the phenomena partial paralysis of the legs, reminiscent of the symptoms of polio, which, unlike true polio, are fortunately reversible. Boys may sometimes develop orchitis(inflammation of the testicles), and the course of the disease sometimes resembles mononucleosis (damage to the throat and spleen).
There is also a hypothesis that infection with group B Coxsackievirus may further contribute to the development of insulin-dependent diabetes, however, this relationship has not been conclusively confirmed.
The current activity of the Coxsackie virus in Turkey is by no means extraordinary news: our vacationers have previously been infected with similar enteroviruses during trips to Cyprus, Goa, Thailand and other resort regions with a hot climate, including within our country. Outbreaks of the disease caused by the Coxsackie virus have also been recorded in temperate climate zones, especially in preschool institutions. Another thing is that such cases have not received such wide publicity, not like in our time of the Internet and the dominance of social networks. In addition, as sad as it is to state, many of our ordinary local pediatricians and therapists simply do not know how to diagnose infection with the Coxsackie virus - patients are given all sorts of diagnoses, from ARVI to allergies, in addition to the true cause of the disease.
In medical slang, a disease caused by Coxsackie viruses is often called "hand-foot-mouth syndrome" according to the typical localization of the main features.
Coxsackievirus is extremely contagious and can be transmitted from person to person airborne, alimentary(through food), contact-household And water-fecal route, you can become infected with the virus both from a sick person and from a virus carrier. There are isolated cases of transplacental infection, when the virus is transmitted from mother to child. All the patient's secretions are contagious:
The incubation period from the moment of infection with the Coxsackie virus can last from 1-2 days to a week, and sometimes up to 10 days, depending on the type of virus; a person becomes contagious from the moment the first signs of the disease appear and sometimes remains so for some time after their disappearance. In the external environment, these viruses are quite stable, but they are sensitive to ultraviolet radiation; when boiled, they die within 20 minutes, and when using chlorine-containing disinfectants, they die almost instantly.
Most often, the Coxsackie virus provokes the development of the disease in children of preschool and primary school age; adults get sick much less often.
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Also at risk are people with or taking immune-suppressing drugs (for example, after an organ transplant). But newborns up to 6 months get sick extremely rarely; their maternal immunity is still “working.”
The first signs of infection with the Coxsackie virus are very similar to the manifestations of “intestinal flu”: patients have a sharp rise in temperature, which is difficult to control and can remain at 39-40 C for several days. Along with catarrhal symptoms, headache and muscle pain, general weakness, patients complain of nausea, bloating and pain in the stomach and intestines, vomiting and severe diarrhea are possible.
In the mildest form of the disease, a rash on the mucous membranes and skin may not appear at all, but in most cases, rashes are observed on the tongue, mucous membranes of the mouth, tonsils and pharynx, followed by the development of stomatitis or sore throat. Rashes on the skin of the face around the mouth and nose, on the palms and soles are also characteristic,
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Moreover, the medical literature claims that there is no itching when infected with the Coxsackie virus, while people who have suffered from this disease often complain not only of unbearable itching in the area of the rash, which interferes with sleep, but also of accompanying severe pain: “it feels like something has been crushed in the throat.” glass”, “a feeling of razor fragments in the throat, it is impossible to swallow”, “when trying to stand on my feet, my feet hurt as if thousands of needles were piercing them.” Some patients also note that after the rash on the fingers and toes disappears, the nails completely or partially come off.
If there is a sharp increase in temperature and severe headache, you should consult a doctor who will check for neck stiffness to rule out meningitis. Diagnosis of Coxsackie virus infection is carried out based on the presence of a complex of concomitant manifestations of the disease in the patient (fever, catarrhal symptoms, rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and others). Laboratory studies, including determination of the virus in nasopharyngeal swabs and feces of a patient using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) or serological testing aimed at determining the activity of antibodies to the virus in the blood, are quite expensive and time-consuming, therefore, in the absence of mass cases of the disease, as a rule, , are not carried out.
There is no vaccine against the Coxsackie virus . There is also no specific treatment for this disease - in case of severe disease, doctors use And antiviral drugs, however, their effectiveness in this case has not been proven; in general, the body must cope with the infection itself. To prevent secondary bacterial complications, the doctor may prescribe a course antibiotics.
The patient is prescribed bed rest, a gentle diet with plenty of fluids. Medications are used to reduce fever paracetamol And ibuprofen. In case of stomatitis and sore throat, rinses are used antiseptic solutions, throat sprays, skin rashes are treated fucorcin or brilliant green. In case of severe dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea, the patient is given a solution to drink Regidrona.
Improvement in the patient's condition usually occurs within 2-3 days from the onset of signs of the disease. If the patient’s health worsens, the doctor may insist on hospitalization. In general, the prognosis for infection with the Coxsackie virus is favorable.
Prevention of infection with the Coxsackie virus includes careful adherence to personal hygiene rules, frequent hand washing, especially after using the toilet. It is advisable to avoid large crowds of people; you should not swim in the pool – children’s “paddling pools” can be especially dangerous in this regard. It is necessary to wash fruits and vegetables well, observe the temperature conditions for cooking, and, if possible, avoid sharing utensils with strangers.
Good health to everyone!
