Infection with the Coxsackie virus can proceed with varying degrees of severity, from mild malaise to life-threatening conditions for a child. Of course, it is always better to prevent the disease than to cure it afterwards.
Coxsackie viruses are a type of enterovirus and are closely related to echoviruses (ECHO). There can be many manifestations, but the main signs, as a rule, are a sharp deterioration in the child's condition, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and some others. These viruses are considered "childish", since children from 3 to 10 years old are mainly affected.
The skin of the arms and legs is also slightly thicker than other parts of the body. They are not bubbles, which resemble a dewdrop on a smooth surface, as in smallpox, but are more stacked in the middle. Can we easily diagnose the disease? Provided that it gives these classic symptoms. However, there are unusual forms of the virus in which the rash takes over the entire body and is then very difficult to distinguish. In fact, the first symptom that is unambiguous and should be the impulse for reporting to the doctor is the skin symptoms, the first blisters on the arms and legs.
During a febrile period, observing the throat in the arches of the sky, we can see red spots or bubbles. But we don't yet know if these are herpes blisters or angina pectoris, for example. And only a rash on the skin of the hands and feet confirms the diagnosis. Then we can say that this is a disease of the hands, feet and mucous membranes of the mouth. Let's also remember that Boston has a different course over the years. Two years ago, children came to me with very unusual symptoms such as a rash all over their body.
How is Coxsackie virus infection
Any enterovirus infections are considered diseases of dirty hands, and the Coxsackie virus is no exception. You can become infected with the Coxsackie virus from a person who is a carrier, both sick and in the absence of signs of the disease. The virus is spread by the oral-fecal route - that is, it is introduced into the mouth with dirty hands. Enteroviruses, including the Coxsackie virus, getting on the oral mucosa are absorbed into the bloodstream and through the bloodstream into the intestines, where the virus multiplies and exits with feces.
Symptoms of the Coxsackie virus in adults
And now we are diagnosing Boston with a very characteristic course. Is the disease more common than ever? It was definitely as if the virus had spread more and more contagious. There were only cases. Boston spreads easily because the virus travels drop by drop. Yes, just drink from the same glass, give the patient a hand, and then eat something. Most often we come into contact with a sick person, but also through dirty hands. The boston virus is found in saliva, urine, blisters, which appear on the skin along with the disease.
The Coxsackie virus can remain viable in the external environment for a long time, it is possible to get infected by airborne droplets, through contaminated products that have not been heat treated, and even water.
Who is at risk of contracting the Coxsackie virus
It is believed that children under 3 months of age are protected from this enterovirus, and after 10-12 years, almost everyone already has an experience of infection behind them, after which a stable immunity is developed. Thus, children older than 3 months and up to 12 years old fall into the risk group of infection with the Coxsackie virus, but the peak of the disease falls on the period from 3 to 10 years. It is believed that it is impossible to raise a child and never encounter an enterovirus infection.
So easy to spread in nurseries, kindergartens or swimming pools. If a baby touches and scratches the bladder, can it spread to other parts of the body? Another child, touching his rash and then pressing his hands to his mouth, may become infected. On the contrary, there is no danger that a child scratching the rash in one place will spread the blisters further. How does a child feel when they get sick in Boston? It all depends on the severity of the symptoms. Of course, the worst diseases are changes in the mouth.
If they are very clear, the blisters will burst and a very painful ulcer will develop. The child feels pain from chewing and swallowing, reacts to hot and sour. Then it is very important to diet and give children semi-liquid, neutral foods and, of course, hygiene. Parents should make sure that the child does not place dirty hands on the blisters on the skin, scratch or infect them. If it is very small, you can wear cotton gloves or delicate cotton socks.
Symptoms and signs of Coxsackie virus infection
The incubation period is from 2 to 10 days, most often the disease manifests itself in 3-4 days.
- It begins acutely, the temperature rises to 39 degrees and above, the child feels weak and severely unwell, may feel pain in the muscles and complain of a headache - everything looks like signs of SARS. These are signs of general intoxication, when viruses en masse into the bloodstream.
The very next day, the characteristic signs of the Coxsackie virus appear:
A parent who has a doctor listening to such a diagnosis need not worry, because the virus can be easily cured. Actually, this is not a serious illness. The Boston Virus heals on its own and we only help with symptomatic treatment. We lower fevers, give antipyretics, and the rash can be relieved with liquid powders. It is also advisable to use bactericidal solutions that additionally protect against wound infection. Of course, antibiotics and, moreover, steroids have no effectiveness.
- Small bubbles appear on the mucous membrane of the mouth and throat, possibly affecting the tonsils
- The skin may turn red, especially in the upper body, and the vessels of the sclera.
- Very often in children, the submandibular and cervical lymph nodes are enlarged and painful.
- The rash appears on the palms and feet of the child, and it resembles chickenpox in terms of speed and appearance - small bubbles filled with liquid. Unlike chickenpox, the rash does not itch or spread throughout the body, although it may appear on the buttocks, for example. inside forearms and thighs.
- Hand-foot-mouth syndrome - a rash appears simultaneously on the mucous membranes of the mouth, palms and feet
- The child is nauseous and severe diarrhea begins, up to 5-10 times a day. Stools are watery, without mucus or blood.
Will the child feel better soon? Yes, definitely. The first two or three days of the rash are worst. Then the mucous membrane of the mouth is restored and the pain is reduced. In one child, the disease goes away within five days after the appearance of bubbles, while in others it is necessary to wait ten.
If there is one child in kindergarten, the virus spreads quickly, infecting other children. Can we protect the child differently than strengthening his immune system? Taking care of his hygiene. It protects us from the development of these diseases, which we can get through dirty hands. It is not without reason that it is believed that frequent hand washing can hinder development by up to 30 percent. any infections.
Possible complications
It is believed that infection with the Coxsackie virus and echovirus is not dangerous for the child and in the overwhelming majority of cases passes without consequences with proper care of the baby. However, the manifestations of enteroviruses are so diverse that the likelihood of complications always exists. Much depends on the type of Coxsackie virus (groups A and B), concentration and luck.
Incubation period and duration of the disease
Contact with other children causes more frequent infections and conditions. Especially dangerous infectious diseases, whose travels are associated many times with severe complications. With the development of medicine, children are protected from many serious diseases and compulsory vaccinations. Therefore, it is important to follow the vaccination schedule.
The most common childhood illness. Viral diseasetransmitted by a droplet. The symptoms of mumps are primarily: fever, sometimes even very high, as well as enlargement and soreness of the parotid, subagual and sublingual salivary glands. Their pain is aggravated by the sour taste of food. If you have abdominal pain and vomiting during pregnancy, it means that you have had pancreatitis. Sometimes salivary glanditis is accompanied by severe headache and vomiting. This indicates the coexistence of meningitis.
The danger of dehydration exists whenever a child has a fever and diarrhea. Than younger child, the more dangerous for him dehydration and the higher his likelihood.
Serous meningitis. The main symptom is stiffness (tension) of the occipital muscles.
Herpetic sore throat. Single papules on the palate and tonsils turn into vesicles, then into ulcers surrounded by a red corolla.
What is Coxsackie and ECHO infection in children -
Treatment for mumps is symptomatic only. Saliva can be reduced by giving the child paracetamol and a warm neck wrap. For a complete relapse of salivary glaucoma, the child must stay at home. If your child has stomach pain, headaches, and vomiting, see a doctor right away.
Decrease in temperature in children
Eating contaminated meat - mainly beef; Consuming contaminated milk or its products; Consumption of unprofitable vegetables and fruits; Drinking contaminated water; Bath in contaminated water; Direct contact with the carrier; Direct contact with the patient. Symptoms of the infection include watery diarrhea lasting about 10 days, vomiting, and severe stomach pain. You should tell your doctor immediately if diarrhea, headaches, and abdominal discomfort persist for more than two days, or if there is blood in your stool.
These are far from all possible manifestations of the Coxsackie virus, but in any case, the diagnosis should be made by a doctor, as well as appropriate treatment should be prescribed. Fortunately, in the vast majority of cases, the disease goes away without consequences and without hospitalization.
Antibiotics cannot cure viral infections! Moreover, they can significantly worsen the condition of the child. Antibacterial drugs the doctor can prescribe if a bacterial has joined the viral infection.
Features of the course of the disease with Coxsackie virus in adults
Treatment can be symptomatic by balancing electrolytes. Measures are also being taken to control the spread of bacteria. Inflammation in children caused by adenovirus, rhinovirus, enterovirus, coronavirus, Epshtein-Barr virus, influenza and parainfluenza viruses, or herpes. The symptoms of viral pharyngitis occur 1-6 days after infection.
What is Coxsackie virus
Typical symptoms are sore throat, fever, and malaise. Often during viral pharyngitis, other flu symptoms appear, such as cough, rhinitis, headache and muscles. Symptoms may also be accompanied by vomiting. Changes seen on the mucous membranes of the throat are also characteristic of viral pharyngitis. The child may also have enlarged peripheral lymph nodes.
How to recover a child after an intestinal infection says Dr. Komarovsky
The Coxsackie virus is an infectious agent that causes stomatitis with exanthema. This virus is common all over the world and can manifest itself in different ways. It got its name from the city of Koksaki, where it was first identified in the middle of the last century. However, despite the fact that the area of \u200b\u200bits distribution is quite wide, it is not always diagnosed. Very often, its symptoms are called influenza, SARS or fever of unknown etiology. This is because Coxsackie viruses manifest themselves in a very diverse way and there is no way to describe their specific symptoms. Often these microorganisms do not have any symptoms at all, sometimes they behave like a fever, in other cases - like a severe infectious process.
Some viruses can cause so-called. angina herpetic. The symptoms of this type of pharyngitis are blisters or sores and a high fever back wall throat. The virus is transmitted by feral oral and droplet routes, and the disease resolves within a week after symptoms appear.
Treatment for viral pharyngitis mainly relieves symptoms and irritates the child. You can give your child ibuprofen and paracetamol, and it is also important to clear the blocked nose. If your child's condition does not improve after a week of home treatment, you should see a pediatrician.
Sooner or later, every inhabitant of the planet becomes ill with this virus, most often it occurs in childhood... It is interesting that infection with the Coxsackie virus in a child under 3 months does not occur, with the exception of children who received it in utero, having become infected from the mother during childbirth or during pregnancy. As for babies, breast milk protects them from the Coxsackie virus. The virus mainly infects children under 5 years of age. All adults, as a rule, have transferred the pathology to early age and have antigens in the blood for infection.
In a child, this disease is much more severe than in adults due to an undetermined immune system. Lung inflammation can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and even fungi. Symptoms viral pneumonia include: discomfort, dry cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
Stomach sounds are clearly audible in the stethoscope. Fungal pneumonia occurs: lack of appetite and apathy, increased shortness of breath, high blood pressure, rapid breathing. There may also be fever and coughing. Symptoms of Atypical Pneumonia include: a characteristic dry and tired cough, slow onset and slight rise in temperature. These symptoms can also coexist with others, such as sore throat and headache, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. Atypical pneumonia develops in children for a very long time, even up to several weeks.
Infection methods
So what is the Coxsackie virus? It is a highly contagious RNA microorganism that thrives and multiplies rapidly in the gastric environment. It is possible to become infected with it, being among virus carriers and patients. It is transmitted with feces or airborne droplets. Outbreaks of the disease usually occur in the summer and autumn periods. Wastewater samples taken for laboratory research at this time show a large number of strains of this virus.
Asymptomatic pneumonia does not give you the overt symptoms of the aforementioned cases, but that does not mean that they are not. Symptoms of illness may be worse, coughing or rapid breathing. Pneumonia often requires hospital treatment. In some cases, home treatment can also be prescribed, providing children with antibiotics or modern antiviral drugs.
Allocate various forms of the disease
The disease appears after 3-4 days of infection, usually viral - pharyngitis and rhinitis. Viruses from different groups are the most common diseases. It also happens, although rarely, that the disease is caused by bacteria. Symptoms: the child has a cough, at first dry, later, wet, elevated temperature, he has many secrets that he cannot spit. With vomiting, vomiting and abdominal pain develop. Bronchitis usually lasts about 10 days.
Often, the pathogen is brought from other countries, where people go on vacation. Swimming in the sea and pools, a large crowd of vacationers, visiting children's discos and clubs - all this leads to the fact that everyone returning home is, if not sick, then a virus carrier. Parents write off the symptoms of the disease in a child for a change in climate, overheating in the sun, or just a cold. But this is in the event that the Coxsackie virus in children proceeds with mild or no symptoms.
Treatment: In case of bacterial infection, the child will receive an antibiotic, in case of viral infection - not. In this case, only dilated and mucolytic drugs are sufficient, which facilitates displacement. Your doctor should also prescribe appropriate doses of anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs. There are times when a child must be hospitalized, so bronchitis always requires a visit to a doctor.
In 90% of cases, ear infections are preceded by an infection of the upper respiratory tract... An ear infection most often has a bacterial surface, and even more so a viral one. Factors contributing to otitis media. When a leak occurs, moisture is reduced. Treatment: The basis of therapy is an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic. When the drugs are correctly chosen, the symptoms disappear in 2-3 days. Sometimes it is necessary to perform a procedure that includes an incision of the tympanic membrane, whereby the secretion is detected.
The microorganism at normal temperature dies within a week, but when treated with 70% alcohol, it survives. The incubation period of the Coxsackie virus is from 3 to 10 days. Higher humidity increases the risk of infection. The virus is not afraid of perchloric acid, it can only be destroyed by ultraviolet radiation, very high temperatures and formalin liquid.
The treatment brings immediate relief by relieving pain caused by the stretching of the altered inflammation of the tympanic membrane. Hearing aid hygiene is also important. Treatment for acute otitis media usually lasts about 3 weeks. This condition tends to go into a chronic condition leading to complications.
This disease can be caused by bacteria and viruses. In the case of a bacterial infection, all symptoms appear suddenly, and viral infection observed gradually. Bacterial inflammation also manifests itself in purulent rashes and high temperature... Symptoms of tonsillitis include: sore throat, tonsillitis, enlargement, rhinitis, fever, ear pain, halitosis, loss of appetite, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, enlarged lymph nodes. Not every child has all the symptoms.
If we talk about the typical manifestation of the Coxsackie virus, then its onset is usually acute - the temperature up to 39 ° C is sharply understood, the general state of health worsens, the head and muscles may hurt. It usually takes several days from infection to the first symptoms (an average of a week).
Further on the mucous membrane of the mouth appear small - up to 2 mm bubbles, they can be on the palate, tongue, but most of them are located on the inner surface of the cheeks. Sometimes vesicles can attack the tonsils. By themselves, they are painful and cause discomfort to a person.
After some time, bubbles filled with liquid contents can appear on the palms, on the soles of the feet, sometimes a rash appears between the toes. This phenomenon resembles chicken pox. Gradually, a similar rash may develop on the buttocks, forearms, and arms. Painful blisters don't always itch. But if it appears, then it is so painful that children cannot sleep for several nights in a row. Therefore, if discomfort arises, you must immediately begin to treat the skin with drugs that stop painful sensations.
The high fever can last for several days and then subside, provided that the infection proceeds in a classical way and does not cause complications. When infected with the Coxsackie virus, a dyspeptic syndrome can occur: vomiting and diarrhea can occur, however, with a liquid stool, pathological impurities are not observed - there is no mucus, no pus, or blood.
Flu-like infection is the mildest form. It lasts no more than a day and, apart from the high temperature, does not manifest itself in anything. Headache, bone aches and general weakness are more a sign of a high fever. On the fourth day, everything goes away, and complications almost never arise.
Intestinal localization is divided into 2 types - A and B. This form mainly affects babies under 2 years old. In a large children's team, only a few can become infected. In this case, a high temperature also rises, it is accompanied by weakness, aches in muscles and bones, and headache. Very often, such manifestations are confused with intestinal poisoning, because there are all the symptoms of intoxication of the body. The baby may feel nauseous and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration.
The younger the child, the more symptoms corresponding to ARVI will develop: he may have a sore throat, runny nose, and cough. If a school-age child is infected, then usually in a couple of days all the symptoms already pass, but children in the younger age category can get sick for a week.
The intestinal localization of the virus negatively affects the special cells in the intestine that produce lactose. It is likely that the whole next month the child will suffer from intolerance to dairy products, which means that medical lactose should be introduced into the diet of infants.
The Boston form of the virus resembles rubella in its manifestations. The child's body is covered with red blisters. The temperature can rise to 40 ° C, but the disease does not last long - 3-4 days. This form of the virus affects preschool children the most. It does not cause any complications. The incubation of the infection takes only a few hours.
Pleurodynia also lasts 3-4 days, the temperature can rise to 40 ° C, babies complain of unbearable pain in the back, in the navel and chest... During movement, they intensify. On average, such phenomena last several minutes, but occur approximately once an hour. Such attacks are associated with the fact that the Coxsackie virus affects the pleura and peritoneum, which, when rubbed, cause severe pain... It is extremely difficult to become infected with this form of the virus, because the infection of this type does not survive well in temperate climates and in flat areas.
The Coxsackie virus in adults behaves in about the same way as in the child's body. If a person is infected with the A-form and he has good immunity, then there will be no symptoms of symptoms. If the body's defense is reduced, then a small short-lived fever may occur, some areas of the skin can turn red, rarely, but still there is a one-time small rash. Treatment is not required, after a couple of days all symptoms go away on their own.
If the virus in adults has a B form, then a high temperature rises, muscle and bone pain appears, it can sprinkle on the feet, palms, and less often the whole body. Also, blisters can occur on the oral mucosa, often there is abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. In adults, with the Coxsackie virus, the symptoms are not much different from a childhood disease, but they pass faster, since the immune system of a mature person fights infection more successfully.
At the moment, there is no clear evidence that the Coxsackie virus form A can have a negative effect on the course of pregnancy or on the health of the baby. Intrauterine infection is a very rare case even during the period of the virus epidemic; the growth of congenital malformations of the fetus has not yet been noticed.
The Coxsackie virus during pregnancy can be very dangerous in B-form. In this case, statistics say that with a disease in women, the percentage of spontaneous miscarriages increases, as well as the development of fetal malformations, mainly in the heart, genitourinary system and gastrointestinal tract.
Adult therapy
With the Coxsackie virus, treatment should be aimed at increasing immunity. If it was possible on the first day to determine that an infection occurred with this particular microorganism, then it makes sense to treat it.
The following antiviral and rather potent drugs are used:
- Amizon;
- Amiksin;
- Remantadine;
- Arbidol;
- Lavomax and others.
If the diagnosis did not occur on the first day, then the symptoms should be removed. To do this, it is required to exclude physical activity, sleep more, warm drink is recommended, do not overload the body with heavy and fatty foods. As for the rash, it usually does not cause concern for adults, but if itching does appear, then you can take Zodak, Suprastin or other antihistamines. In case of intense heat (above 38 ° C), you can take Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.
Treatment of children
Finistil gel is recommended for children to relieve itching. To eliminate unpleasant symptoms in oral cavity you can use Maalox, Hescid or other antacids. The child should be given immunomodulatory drugs - Cycloferon, Roferon or Viferon. At high temperatures, Paracetamol or Nurofen can be used. Even if there is a severe headache or muscle pain, it is not recommended to give Analgin to children. To relieve symptoms in the oral cavity, babies under 3 years old should not take anything, older children can brew chamomile tea. In order for metabolic processes in the body to normalize, vitamins B1 and B2 are recommended.
In general, a pediatrician can tell you about how to treat the virus. As for the forecasts, adults return to their usual way of life after 2-4 days, and children can get sick for up to 1.5 weeks, but the temperature drops after 2-3 days.