What Is Coxsackievirus?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
9. Meningitis, Encephalitis, and Type 1 Diabetes
Infections caused by group A and B Coxsackievirus serotypes can sometimes spread to the nervous system. Aseptic meningitis occurs when the cerebrospinal fluid and the membrane surrounding the brain become infected. Symptoms include headache, high fever, rash, and a sore, stiff neck. The condition usually goes away without treatment, but in rare cases leads to encephalitis, a potentially life-threatening swelling of the brain.
Coxsackievirus B4 is currently under investigation as a possible causal factor in the development of Type 1 diabetes. Research has shown diabetic children to have three-ten times more enterovirus infections than children without the disease. Genetic factors are also thought to play a strong role.
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