COXSACKIE
Known as: Coxsackievirus A - hand foot and mouth
About: Virus
Microscope: Linear shaped, single stranded virus
What can it do: Coxsackie virus A can cause hand foot and mouth disease.
Help: The majority of symptoms can be helped with over the counter fever reducers and by maintaining a good fluid intake and staying hydrated. In severe cases where complications occur to do with the heart and brain, hospitalisation and specialised treatment may be needed. There are no preventative vaccines for Coxsackie to date.
Infectious rating: Coxsackie is infectious and can be passed from person to person via bodily fluids and infectious stool. It can also be contracted by touching an infected item such as a door handle, desk or other surface areas. It is most contagious during the first week of symptoms but a person may remain infectious for several weeks after the disease begins.
I feel sick: Most commonly symptoms begin with loss of appetite, fever and generally feeling unwell. Following this a rash may appear as well as sore areas that develop into blisters on the hands and feet. Some patients develop conjunctivitis. Symptoms usually last up to 10 days before recovery begins. In some rare cases the disease may develop and result in heart, or brain problems such as myocarditis, pericarditis or meningitis. In another strain of the infection, polio like neurological symptoms may also occur.
Skin symptoms: Rash which can develop into blister type sores.
Tummy/intestine symptoms
Fever and chills, sore throat with painful swallowing, hoarse voice, headache, tummy pain, swelling in the abdomen, neck or glands, diarrhoea with or without blood in it, vomiting and nausea, blood vomiting, red face and eyes, fainting.
Lung symptoms: Some respiratory illness such as a cough and a sore throat.
GEOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS
Coxsackie virus is a worldwide problem which was first recorded in the USA in New York but is now found all over the world and all year round in tropical climates. There is some decrease during seasonal variables and at higher altitudes.