Enterovirus infections include a number of diseases that are caused by a group of non-polio viruses. They occur mainly in the summer-autumn period, most often children from 2 to 10 years old suffer. It is worth noting that the transmission of viruses is possible both by contact and through water, food or common items. Pathogens can survive for quite a long time in the environment, they endure low temperatures and adverse conditions (neither 70% alcohol nor acidic gastric juice affects them in any way).
At the end of the incubation period, an enterovirus infection, the symptom of which has not yet manifested itself, becomes especially dangerous. It is during this period and in the first days of the disease that the peak of infections occurs. The onset of the disease is characterized by a significant increase in temperature, while it can last up to 5 days, after which it subsides. Its next rise occurs after a couple of days, the second time it lasts no more than two days. Such an abrupt increase in temperature is characterized by enterovirus infection, this symptomcharacteristic of all types of viruses that cause it. But the rest of its manifestations can vary significantly.
The disease can develop when non-polio Coxsackie viruses of groups A and B, ECHO and a number of other unclassified types enter the body. Another feature of this disease is the variety of its manifestations: it can be angina, conjunctivitis, intestinal problems, meningitis, encephalitis, hepatitis, a rash on the body - it's hard to believe, but all of these diseases are caused by enterovirus infection. Its symptoms, however, may not appear in any way. After all, 45% of those infected do not even know that they are sick. Most often, its asymptomatic course resolves in children under the age of 6 months, in whom the mother's antibodies still work in the body, and in recovering patients who have been re-infected with the virus.
Diagnosing an enterovirus infection is possible only with the help of special tests from the affected areas (it can be the nose, pharynx or rectum). The study takes several days, so the diagnosis is based on the symptoms, and the analysis only helps to confirm it.
Due to the wide variety of manifestations of the disease, there are no single methods of its treatment. First of all, it is necessary to isolate the patient who is suspected of having an enterovirus infection, drugs are prescribed depending on the symptoms that appear. With angina, conjunctivitis or diarrhea, additional conduction is possibleantibiotic therapy.
Despite the fact that immunity is produced as a result of the disease, re-infection is quite likely. This becomes possible due to the fact that the infection is caused by different types of virus. It is because of this that the development of a vaccine is complicated.
In addition, even within the same team, enterovirus infection can manifest itself differently. A symptom of the disease, the same for all types, is a high temperature. All other clinical manifestations cannot be combined in any way. Due to the same type of virus, there can be an intestinal infection, and tonsillitis, and hepatitis, and conjunctivitis.
