A throat infection caused by coxsackievirus. Herpangina most commonly affects young children. The virus is usually transmitted via infected droplets coughed or sneezed into the air. Many people harbour the virus but do not have symptoms. Symptoms may include fever, sore throat, headache, abdominal discomfort, and muscular pains. The throat becomes red and a few small blisters appear, which enlarge and burst. Symptoms usually clear up within a week, without specific treatment.
Herpangina is a short febrile illness in which minute vesicles or punched-out ulcers develop in the posterior parts of the mouth. It is due to infection with the group A COXSACKIE VIRUSES.
n. an acute viral infection, occurring predominantly in children, that causes a fever of sudden onset associated with malaise and acute ulceration of the soft palate and tonsillar area. It usually lasts 2–5 days.
A group of viruses so-called because they were ?rst isolated from two patients with a disease resembling paralytic POLIOMYELITIS, in the village of Coxsackie in New York State. Thirty distinct types have now been identi?ed. They constitute one of the three groups of viruses included in the family of ENTEROVIRUSES, and are divided into two groups: A and B. Despite the large number of types of group A virus (24) in existence, evidence of their role in causing human disease is limited. Some, however, cause aseptic MENINGITIS, non-specicifc upper respiratory infection and MYOCARDITIS, and others cause a condition known as HERPANGINA. HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE is another disease caused by the A group. All six types of group B virus have been associated with outbreaks of aseptic meningitis, and they are also the cause of BORNHOLM DISEASE. Epidemics of type B2 infections tend to occur in alternate years. (See VIRUS.)... coxsackie viruses
(echovirus) one of a group of RNA-containing viruses that are able to multiply in the gastrointestinal tract (see enterovirus). About 30 different types exist. Type A Coxsackie viruses generally cause less severe and less well-defined diseases, such as *hand, foot, and mouth disease, although some cause meningitis and severe throat infections (see herpangina). Type B Coxsackie viruses cause inflammation or degeneration of heart tissue, resulting in pericarditis or myocarditis, or brain tissue, producing meningitis or encephalitis. They can also attack the muscles of the chest wall, the bronchi, pancreas, thyroid, or conjunctiva and recent evidence suggests they may be implicated in diabetes in children and in motor neuron disease. See also Bornholm disease.... coxsackie virus
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