Know various causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention for Coxsackie virus in adults, separated mainly into two groups, A and B.
The majority of patients identified with Coxsackie virus are children but people of any age can get infected. These viruses cause variety of disease ranges from very mild to life-threatening. In the following article, there are symptoms and treatment for Coxsackie virus mentioned.
It was first isolated from human feces, in a New York town named coxsackie so the name coxsackie is given to the virus. Coxsackie virus is a member of the Picornaviridae family of viruses in the genus termed Enterovirus. Coxsackie virus is separated into groups, group A coxsackie virus and group B coxsackie virus. Each group is further divided into several serotypes. Type A causes hand, foot, and mouth disease and conjunctivitis, while type B causes pleurodynia. Both types sometime cause meningitis, myocarditis, and pericarditis. By the acid in the stomach the virus is not destroyed and it can live on surfaces for numerous hours. After the virus has entered the body, it takes 2 to 3 days for symptom manifestations.
In the first week of illness, people are most infectious but the virus may still be present up to one week after symptoms resolve. Coxsackie virus is spread from person to person. In adults, virus is spread through the contaminated contact material. In the secretions and bodily fluids of infected people, the virus is present. Minor illness such as running nose, conjunctivitis and diarrhea to grave conditions like meningitis and pericrditis are caused by Coxsackie virus. By coming into contact with respiratory secretions from infected patients, the virus may be spread. Virus can also spread by soiled hands from fecal matter, if they are not washed. No vaccine is available, and there is no drug that specifically kills the virus.
Causes of Coxsackie Virus:
Poor comfort room facilities
Dirty environment
Inhaling droplets of cough or sneeze from an infected person
Poor toilet habits such as not washing the hands with soap and water after defecating
Touching areas and surfaces touched by a person who just came from the toilet with unwashed hands
Symptoms of Coxsackie Virus:
Respiratory illness:
With sore throat and a runny nose, it is common for the coxsackie virus to cause a febrile upper respiratory tract infection. Few patients have a cough like bronchitis. Less commonly, coxsackie virus may cause pneumonia.
Conjunctivitis:
Coxsackie virus may cause acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC). AHC presents with a swollen eye and red hemorrhages in the whites of the eye. Generally the infection spreads to the other eye also. Affected people may feel like there is something in their eye or complain of burning pain.
Meningitis:
Coxsackie viruses, group B may cause viral meningitis which is inflammation of the linings of the spinal cord and brain. Viral meningitis is also recognized as “aseptic meningitis” because routine cultures of the spinal fluid show no bacterial growth. Patients with aseptic meningitis complain of a headache and fever with mild neck stiffness and rash may be present. Seizures are less common in adults, although adults may complain of fatigue that lasts for weeks after the meningitis resolves.
Rash:
Some people with coxsackie virus have a rash. Small, tender blisters and red spots on the palms, soles of the feet, and inside the mouth are also caused by the virus. It is mild and resolves on its own. In the mouth, sores occur on the tongue, gums, and cheek. HFMD generally causes a sore throat, fever, and the characteristic rash. Coxsackievirus also may cause a syndrome called herpangina among children 3-10 years of age.
Weakness and paralysis:
Weakness in an arm or leg or even partial paralysis is another rare symptom. Paralysis or weakness may follow a bout of AHC or may occur on its own. Weakness and paralysis caused by coxsackie virus are not permanent.
Myopericarditis:
Infection of the heart and lining of the heart (myopericarditis) is a very grave problem caused by coxsackie virus. This is quite rare but myopericarditis may be mild or severe. Severe cases may result in heart failure, heart attack, or death. In young, active adults myopericarditis is very common and the symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, and leg swelling. The injury to the heart may be transient or permanent.
Coxsackie virus in people with impaired immune systems:
People born with faults in the immune system and those who are taking immunosuppressive medicines are vulnerable to more severe and prolonged infection with coxsackie virus.
Severe infection of the newborn:
From infected adults or children, newborns may obtain the virus. During pregnancy at the time of delivery, infection may be transmitted as the infant comes into contact with the mother’s secretions. Some infected babies will have a mild illness but severely affected infants become listless or unresponsive and may have myopericarditis/heart failure, pneumonia, or an inflamed liver (hepatitis) or liver failure. Diarrhea may cause dehydration in infants and may be severe enough to be life-threatening.
Pleurodynia:
An inflammation of the muscles in the chest is known as Pleurodynia. It causes unexpected onset of sharp chest pain which gets worse when taking a deep breath. Pain may also be present in the abdomen. In waves or spasms, the pain comes and goes.
Other syndromes:
Coxsackie virus may infect the testicles of young boys (orchitis) causing inflammation and swelling similar to mumps. The virus may also cause a syndrome that is similar to mononucleosis with an enlarged spleen and sore throat.
Treatment of Coxsackie virus:
Coxsackie virus in adults treatment includes eating vegetables and fruits containing vitamin C and drinking plenty of water and increasing body immunity.
Take a lot of rest and take at least 8 hours of sleep every day.
Drink a lot of fluids such as fruit and vegetable juices.
After using the toilet, wash your hands thoroughly especially if you would use public comfort rooms. Use a sanitizers or rubbing alcohol, if soap and water is not accessible.
There is no antibiotic for Coxsackie viruses, therefore call your doctor so that he may prescribe medicine to make you feel better.
To strengthen your immune system, eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
Eat vegetables and fruits containing vitamin C, as this vitamin helps the body to fight such infection.
If you are found to be infected with coxsackie virus, then take a leave from the office to allow yourself to fully recover and to prevent yourself from transmitting the virus to others.
Drink plenty of water when there is coxsackie virus infection, it helps to eliminate the virus effects and dehydration.
If there is sore throat causing pain and difficulty in swallowing, then do salt water gargling.
Apple juice and lime juice also help when an adult suffers from coxsackie virus.
Prefer soft foods and warm liquids like soups and broths as they are easier to swallow.
Prevention:
Frequent hand washing by both sick and well people is the key to reduce transmission.
People who are sneezing or coughing should cover their mouths.
Diapers and fecal waste should be handled carefully and disposed of properly.
Surfaces should be kept clean.
Contaminated surfaces should be disinfected using a dilute solution of household bleach.
Pregnant women should avoid contact with children (or adults) with HFMD.