Coxsackie A virus
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Coxsackie (virus) is a cytolytic virus of the Picornaviridae family, an enterovirus (a group containing the polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, and echoviruses). There are 61 non-polio enteroviruses that can cause disease in humans, of them 23 are Coxsackie A viruses (6 are Coxsackie B viruses). Enterovirus are the second most common viral infectious agents in humans (after the rhinoviruses)
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[edit] Discovery
The virus was first documented in 1948 during an investigation into polio; it was named after the town in which it was discovered, Coxsackie, New York.
[edit] Diseases
The most well known Coxsackie A disease is hand, foot and mouth disease (unrelated to foot and mouth disease), a common childhood illness, often produced by Coxsackie A16. In most cases infection is asymptomatic or causes only mild symptoms. In others, infection produces short-lived (7-10 days) fever and painful blisters in the mouth (a condition known as herpangina), on the palms and fingers of the hand, or on the soles of the feet. There can also be blisters in the throat, or on or above the tonsils. Adults can also be affected. The rash, which can appear several days after high temperature and painful sore throat, can be itchy and painful, especially on the hands/fingers and bottom of feet.
Other diseases include acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis (A24 specifically), herpangina, and aseptic meningitis (both Coxsackie A and B viruses). Coxsackie B viruses also cause infectious myocarditis, infectious pericarditis, and pleurodynia.
[edit] Diagnosis
To diagnose myocarditis, a heart biopsy is done.
[edit] Treatment
Treatment is dependent on the disease process initiated by the virus.
[edit] See also
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