Coxsackie viruses - the main cause of aseptic meningitis

Coxsackie viruses are a group of RNA-containingviruses that reproduce in the patient's gastrointestinal tract. The virus is ubiquitous, affecting most often the meninges, and is the main cause of such a disease as aseptic meningitis.

For the first time, Coxsackie viruses were isolated by doctorsDoldorf and Sickles in children with polio-like symptoms in one of the hospitals in the town of Coxsackie (USA), in honor of which this group of viruses was named. Coxsackie viruses are very similar to polioviruses, but unlike the latter they have an antigenic structure different from theirs and do not react with antibodies to poliovirus pathogens.

Consequences of infection with these virusesthey are only partially dependent on the serotype of the viral agent. Statistics show that up to 60% of all infections occur subclinically. Also, asymptomatic carriage of these viruses is very common, which depends primarily on the characteristics of the microorganism and the infecting strain. Diseases that cause Coxsackie viruses can be both acute and chronic, and the intensity is moderate to lethal.

Coxsackie virus symptoms and disease

Herpetic angina

Most common in infants and childrenearly age. For this disease, the characters are fever, which lasts for several days, the general poor state of health, pathological changes in the throat, which are accompanied by pain in the grief. In addition, small bubbles may appear on the soft palate, palatine arches, amygdala and tongue, which eventually erupt . In herpetic angina, cervical lymph nodes also become inflamed. Acute illness lasts about 5 days, after which the patient recovers.

Myocarditis of newborns

A rare disease that occurs in childrenon the first weeks of life. The cause of myocarditis is infection with the Coxsackie virus of the child's mother. Symptoms of the disease are fever, diarrhea, signs of OOS beginning, enlarged liver. On the ECG, lesions of the myocardium are visible, and in some cases development of meningitis is possible.

Serous meningitis

Symptoms of the disease are similar to those of polio. The disease in most cases is benign, and passes favorably for the patient in a few days.

Pleurodinia (Bornholm disease or epidemic myalgia)

The disease most often affected by childrenpreschool and early school age. Outbreaks of this disease occur periodically, especially in summer and autumn. Symptoms of the disease - a sudden onset of fever, poor health, headache. In addition, there are also stitching muscle pains in the chest, often in the epigastric region. Affected muscles are painful to the touch and dense. The blood test practically does not show the presence of this disease, except for moderate leukocytosis. Due to the similarity of symptoms, the disease can easily be confused with the symptoms of diseases affecting the respiratory system, or with peritonitis. Recovering the patient begins several days after the onset of the disease.

Aseptic meningitis

The most important of all diseases thatcauses Coxsackie virus. Treatment in other cases does not require, as it can take place in a fairly easy form and be managed alone after a few days. But, there are often situations in which the disease is accompanied by encephalitis, which gives irreversible effects on the body. Usually the disease begins with a malaise, but sometimes the disease can manifest with fever, headaches and stiff neck muscles. In rare cases, the disease can cause local disturbances of mobility and sensitivity. Acute conditions can persist for a week, after which, in most cases, the patient becomes lighter.