10 Coxsackievirus Symptoms
Coxsackieviruses are a series of RNA viruses that can cause a variety of symptoms, most notably those related to hand, mouth, and foot disease (referred to as HFMD). Coxsackieviruses can also contribute to various diseases that target the muscles, the lungs, and the heart. Usually, it’s younger patients that experience symptoms of HFMD. This is far more likely to occur in children, but it can also occur in adults. Fortunately, HFMD infections are generally self-limited and don’t require serious medical treatment.
Symptoms of HFMD usually resolve within ten days. There usually isn’t any scarring or permanent damage. The virus spreads through the fecal-oral route and respiratory droplets as well.
The coxsackievirus is part of the Picornaviridae family of viruses, a particular type of a wide strain of viruses known as Enterovirus. The coxsackievirus is divided into two groups, coxsackievirus A (CVA) and coxsackievirus B (CVB). The differences between the two types of coxsackievirus are based on the way that they affect newborn mice. CVA is known to induce muscle injuries and can cause muscle paralysis. CVB tends to cause organ damage to the heart, pancreas, and liver. It is important to know that over 90% of patients infected with coxsackievirus are asymptomatic.
