coxsackie A & coxcackie B

Dinner/Lepak together with a few friends late last night - entertaining kawan-kawan from Ganu - broad range of topics for the discussion - from x-MB to current, Sabah's YTL, auto-industry, Euro2008, NGV, agri, cacing, lintah and also this one - COXSACKIE.

i have to browse thru internet to get exact info on coxsackie. share.

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Coxsackievirus is the name of two groups of enteroviruses - a genus associated with several human and mammalian diseases.

The most well known Coxsackie A disease is hand, foot and mouth disease, a common childhood illness which affect mostly children aged 10 or under 1, often produced by Coxsackie A16. 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. There can also be blister in the throat, or on or above the tonsils. Adults can also be affected. The rash, which can appear several days after high temperature and painful sore throat, can be itchy and painful, especially on the hands/fingers and bottom of feet.

Symptoms of infection with viruses in the Coxsackie B grouping include fever, headache, sore throat, gastrointestinal distress, as well as chest & muscle pain. Sufferers of chest pain should see a doctor immediately - in some cases, viruses in the Coxsackie B family progress to myocarditis or pericarditis, which can result in permanent heart damage or death. Coxsackie B virus infection may also induce aseptic meningitis. As a group, they are the most common cause of unexpected sudden death, and may account for up to 50% of such cases.

Contagiousness
Coxsackieviruses are very contagious. They can be passed from person to person on unwashed hands and surfaces contaminated by feces. They can also be spread through droplets of fluid sprayed into the air when someone sneezes or coughs.

When an outbreak affects a community, risk for coxsackievirus infection is highest among infants and children younger than 5. The virus spreads easily in group settings like schools, child-care centers, or summer camps. People who are infected with a coxsackievirus are most contagious the first week they're sick.

Prevention
There is no vaccine to prevent coxsackievirus infection. Hand washing is the best protection. Remind everyone in your family to wash their hands frequently, particularly after using the toilet (especially those in public places), after changing a diaper, before meals, and before preparing food. Shared toys in child-care centers should be routinely cleaned with a disinfectant because the virus can live on these objects for days.

See doctor immediately if your child develops any of the following symptoms:

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-fever higher than 38° Celsius

-poor appetite
-trouble feeding
-vomiting
-diarrhea
-difficulty breathing
-convulsions
-unusual sleepiness
-pain in the chest or abdomen
-sores on the skin or inside the mouth
-severe sore throat
-severe headache, esp. with vomiting, confusion, unusual sleepiness
-neck stiffness
-red, swollen, and watery eyes
-pain in one or both testicles

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