Introduction
There are two types of Coxsackievirus, Type A and Type B. Type A viruses cause blisters in the mouth, throat, hands, etc. (HFMD). It can also cause inflammation of the eyelids and white part of the eye. Type B causes fever, lung and abdominal pain, and headaches. It may be a cause for diabetes as well. Both types may cause meningitis and other diseases, but this is less likely.
Hosts
Humans; can infect any people of any age, majority of people infected are young children. Pregnant women can pass the infection to their newborns, which may cause serious problems to the newborn.
Transmission / Exposure Route
Coxsackievirus infections are transmitted mostly by the fecal-route and by respiratory aerosols. Sometimes, the droplets fall onto objects, like toys, and transmit the virus directly to uninfected individuals. Coxsackievirus is very contagious person to person.
Case Fatality Ratio
The prognosis for most patients with Coxsackievirus infections is good, with most children making a complete recovery. However, recently there was an outbreak that required 12% of children to be hospitalized. It is very rare that patients suffer poor outcomes with the complications of the symptoms that are present.
Incubation Period
The incubation period for Coxsackievirus infections is about a day or two, the range being one to five days.
Microbiology
A RNA virus that can be separated into two groups, Group A (CVA) and Group B (CVB).
Enviromental Survival
Coxsackievirus is most stable at a temperature range of 6 to 23 degrees Celsius.
