Microbiology
Summary
Coxsackieviruses type A and B are naked, positive-sense RNA viruses in the Picornaviridae family. These viruses typically affect children in the summer months.
Coxsackievirus A is primarily associated with hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), a common childhood illness characterized by fever, mouth sores, and a rash on the hands and feet. Additionally, it can cause aseptic meningitis, an inflammation of the meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord. HFMD is highly contagious and spreads through contact with infected saliva, feces, or respiratory droplets. Coxsackievirus B is known to be linked with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart's ability to pump blood is weakened, leading to heart failure, as well as aseptic meningitis. This virus can also cause Bornholm disease, also known as pleurodynia or devil's grip, characterized by sudden severe chest pain that worsens with deep breathing or movement.
Lesson Outline
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FAQs
Coxsackievirus is a member of the Picornaviridae family. This family consists of small positive-sense RNA viruses. The Picornaviridae family is divided into many genera, but coxsackievirus A and B, along with a few others, are part of the Enterovirus genus.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), a common viral illness primarily affecting children, is often caused by coxsackieviruses, specifically Coxsackievirus A16. HFMD is characterized by fever, sores in the mouth, and a rash on the hands and feet.
Yes, both coxsackievirus A and B can cause a form of viral meningitis known as aseptic meningitis. This is a condition where the layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord become inflamed. The symptoms can mimic bacterial meningitis, but aseptic meningitis tends to be less severe and most people recover without treatment in a week to ten days.
Coxsackievirus B can cause several diseases in humans. It is often associated with mild illnesses like fever, headache, and muscle aches. However, it can also lead to more serious conditions such as myocarditis or dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle. Coxsackievirus B infection can also cause Bornholm disease or pleurodynia, which is characterized by fever, chest pain, and muscle soreness.
