Does your baby have blisters on his hands, feet, and mouth? This could be Coxsackievirus!

Has your little one developed a rash of red, painful blisters on their palms, soles, and inside their mouth, along with a fever? Or is their throat sore and making it difficult to swallow? You may have heard of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD), which is spreading among young children and sometimes adults in our country these days. The main virus that causes this is actually the Coxsackievirus. Don't worry, we will talk about everything in simple terms today.

What exactly is Coxsackievirus?

Simply put, the Coxsackie virus is a member of the Enterovirus family of viruses. Think of viruses as a large family. Enteroviruses are one group of that family. Coxsackie is also a member of that group. The genetic information of this virus is made up of something called ribonucleic acid (RNA). It gets its name from the town of Coxsackie, New York, where this virus was first identified.

This virus is what causes conditions we all know as hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), sore throat (Herpangina), muscle infections, heart infections, and sometimes meningitis.

Who is most likely to get this disease?

Coxsackie virus infections are usually most common in young children and babies . But that doesn't mean adults can't get them. Anyone of any age can get infected with this virus.

What if it happens to adults?

When adults are infected with this virus, they can sometimes develop hand, foot, and mouth disease, just like children. However, adults are more at risk of developing heart infections than children.

For healthy adults, the risk of complications is low. However, for people with weakened immune systems , such as the elderly, people with diseases such as cancer, and those whose bodies are less able to control their illnesses due to other diseases, this infection can be more severe. If a pregnant mother is infected with this virus, although very rarely, there is a risk of stillbirth. Also, the baby can be infected with the virus even if the mother does not have symptoms during the last half of pregnancy.

Effects on babies and young children

Newborns and young children are most susceptible to this infection. Often, babies only get a fever when they get it. It is especially common in the summer or early fall.

Sometimes, the infection can spread to the heart, causing heart failure or even sudden death. But it is important to remember that this is a very rare occurrence . If a baby is infected with this virus within the first two weeks of life, it can become severe and cause fatal conditions such as liver failure and internal bleeding.

What types of diseases are caused by the Coxsackie virus?

The type of Coxsackie virus you are infected with will affect the severity of your symptoms. The virus is mainly divided into two types: A and B.

What are the symptoms? How is it transmitted?

Surprisingly, 90% of Coxsackie infections show no symptoms, or only a fever. If symptoms do occur, they vary depending on the underlying disease.

• Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD): Painful blisters appear inside the mouth, on the palms of the hands, and on the soles of the feet. This condition usually heals on its own in a few days. However, complications can occur if the child is unable to eat or drink due to mouth sores.
• Herpangina: Causes sore throat, high fever, and headache.
• Muscle cramps: Sharp, painful muscle contractions that last 15-30 minutes occur between the ribs and in the upper abdomen.
• Meningitis: Symptoms include neck stiffness, headache, vomiting, and difficulty looking at bright lights.
• Heart infections: Chest pain, difficulty breathing, and heart rhythm abnormalities may occur.

Is this disease contagious?

Yes, definitely. Coxsackie virus is a very contagious disease.

The best thing you can do to prevent the spread of this is to wash your hands often with soap and water . You should wash your hands especially after changing a baby's diaper, before eating, and after using the bathroom. It is very important for children and adults with symptoms to stay home from school or work for at least a few days until their symptoms have gone away.

How long does this illness last?

Symptoms begin to appear between 3 and 6 days after the virus enters the body.

• Fever: Usually lasts about 2-3 days.
• Mouth sores: may last a little longer, about 7 days.
• Blisters on the hands and feet: These last the longest. They usually fade after about 10 days. You may sometimes see the skin peeling off in those areas before they fade.

Once your child's fever is completely gone, they can return to school. However, if there are a lot of blisters, they will need to wait a while for them to dry up.

How is it treated? When should I see a doctor?

There is no specific treatment or vaccine for Coxsackievirus itself. Treatment is only symptomatic. Your doctor will prescribe painkillers and fever-reducing medications (e.g. paracetamol) to reduce pain and fever.

Treatments such as intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) are being investigated for severely immunocompromised people, especially when the infection has spread to the brain or heart, but they are not widely used.

When to see a doctor immediately

Although this disease is usually not serious, it is very important to seek medical advice immediately if you or your child has the following symptoms:

• Neck stiffness or neck pain (may be a sign of meningitis).
• Chest pain or difficulty breathing (may be a sign of a heart infection).
• The child's fever lasts more than 24 hours.
• Unable to drink any fluids due to pain from mouth sores and showing signs of dehydration (e.g., decreased urine output, dry mouth).
• The child is excessively sleepy or lifeless.
• Seizures (fits).

If you have severe symptoms like these, it is best to take you to the nearest hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) .

Coxsackievirus, Hand Foot and Mouth Disease, HFMD, Childhood Diseases, Viral Infections, Blisters, Fever