Coxsackie A virus is a cytolytic virus of the Picornaviridae family, a enterovirus (a group containing the polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, and echoviruses). There are 61 non-polio enteroviruses that can cause disease in humans, of them 23 are Coxsackie A viruses (6 are Coxsackie B viruses). Enterovirus are the second most common viral infectious agents in humans (after the rhinoviruses)

Discovery

The virus was first documented in 1948, during an investigation into polio, and was named after the settlement in which it was found, Coxsackie, New York

Diseases

The most well known Coxsackie A disease is hand, foot and mouth disease (unrelated to foot and mouth disease), a common childhood illness, often produced by Coxsackie A16. In most cases infection is asymptomatic or causes only mild symptoms. In others, infection produces short-lived (7-10 days) fever and painful blisters in the mouth, on the palms and fingers of the hand, or on the soles of the feet. Other diseases include acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis (A24 specifically), herpangina, and aseptic meningitis (both Coxsackie A and B viruses).

Coxsackie B viruses also cause infectious myocarditis, infectious pericarditis, and pleurodynia.

Diagnosis

To diagnose myocarditis, a heart biopsy is done.

See also

• Bornholm disease
• Coxsackie B