Enteroviruses(EVs) are a group of viruses that cause a variety of contagious illnesses.
At least 106 enteroviruses are known to infect humans.
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Overview of Enterovirus Infections
Enterovirus infection is common.
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Each year in the United States, between 10 and 15 million people have an enterovirus infection.
Most people who get infected with these viruses do not get sick.
Enteroviruses can exist in a person’s stool, saliva, mucus, or fluid from blisters.
They can also survive on surfaces for several days.
Even if you have no symptoms, you might be contagious with an enterovirus for several weeks.
For most people, enterovirus infection causes mild symptoms, if any at all.
Enterovirus Illnesses
Most immune systems are well-equipped to protect against severe enterovirus infections.
Certain virus strains may be more likely to cause serious symptoms in children but no symptoms in adults.
The main symptom of herpangina is blisters that form in the back of the mouth and near the tonsils.
Other symptoms include a sore throat and fever.
Children are more likely to develop herpangina than adults.
Most of the time, herpangina blisters heal in about a week.
Ones that don’t can become chronic ulcers.
Blisters can be painful for about a week.
Out of all enteroviruses, coxsackievirus A16 seems to cause hand, foot, and mouth disease most.
Acute Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitisis often referred to as pink eye.
Symptoms tend to resolve within two weeks at most, usually without long-term eye problems.
Two enteroviruses known for causing AHC are coxsackievirus A24 and enterovirus 70.
Encephalitis
Encephalitisis inflammation of the brain.
Symptoms include blindness, coma, seizures, and loss of movement or coordination.
Around 10% of people who get encephalitis do not survive.
In Asia, large outbreaks of EV71 that led to encephalitis have cost many children their lives.
Some children develop encephalitis of the brainstem, which is considered the most serious form.
Two EV71 vaccines are available in China and have been shown to be effective in preventing encephalitis.
There are no FDA-approved vaccines available for use in the United States.
Myopericarditis
Myopericarditisis inflammation of the heart muscle and the sac surrounding the hearta structure known as thepericardium.
The enteroviruses that most often cause it include coxsackieviruses B3 and B2.
Symptoms of myopericarditis include shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain.
Symptoms can mimic the feeling of having aheart attackand may worsen when lying down.
Some patients who develop severe myopericarditis go intoheart failureas excess fluid builds up in their lungs.
This can be life-threatening.
Echoviruses 13, 18, and 30 are most known for causing viral meningitis.
People with viral meningitis develop tiredness, fever, headache, and sometimes confusion.
They may lose consciousness and have impaired function.
Mild viral meningitis often resolves on its own within seven to 10 days without treatment.
Neonatal Viral Sepsis
Viral sepsisoccurs when the immune system attacks its own tissues rather than the virus.
Neonatal viral sepsis (NVS) is sepsis that specifically affects newborns.
Two enteroviruses that are most likely to cause NVS are echoviruses and types of coxsackievirus B.
Pleurodynia
Pleurodyniais a painful condition in which the lining that surrounds the lungs becomes inflamed.
Chest or abdominal pain tends to begin suddenly and may be accompanied by a fever.
For most adults with pleurodynia, symptoms will resolve within a few days.
Pleurodynia infection in children is more serious and can be deadly.
The enteroviruses that are most likely to cause pleurodynia are echoviruses and coxsackieviruses.
EV-D68 Infection
Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) causes symptoms that are similar to the common cold.
In some cases, it can develop into a severe infection that requires hospitalization.
Symptoms of EV-D68 infection include difficulty breathing and wheezing.
Children with the infection can become weak in their arms and legs.
Eventually, this may lead toacute flaccid paralysis.Fewer than one in four people develop a fever.
Children who have asthma are at a higher risk of complications with EV-D68 infection.
How Do You Get Rid of Enterovirus?
Unless your illness is unusual or severe, your doctor may treat you based on your symptoms.
There is no specific medication that targets enteroviruses themselves.
Other forms of infection, like EV-D68, may not respond to antiviral medication.
Supportive care is given to hospitalized people whose enterovirus infection does not respond to other treatments.
The goal of supportive care is to relieve symptoms until the virus has passed.
For example, people with severe respiratory symptoms may be put on aventilatorto help them breathe.
Preventing Enterovirus Infections
The only enterovirus that can be avoided with a vaccine is the poliovirus.
There are no vaccines available in the United States to prevent non-polio enterovirus infections.
If available, wash your hands with soap and water or carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you.
Avoid shaking hands as much as possible and try not to touch your face.
Keep in mind that you could have an enterovirus infection and not know it.
Summary
Enterovirus infections are common, but they don’t always cause symptoms.
Enteroviruses are passed between people through direct or indirect contact.
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