The enteroviruses are a group of viruses that cause a wide variety of usually brief, but occasionally serious illnesses that are particularly common in children. Included in the group are the coxsackieviruses, the echoviruses, and the polioviruses.

Enteroviral infections occur most often in the summer and fall and can be spread by contact with infected human feces or respiratory secretions. Although they produce a great deal of temporary discomfort, most of the enteroviral infections generally do not cause lasting illness. Often, the only treatment possible is to make the patient comfortable, with plenty of liquids, bed rest, lukewarm sponge baths, and nonaspirin pain relievers (such as acetaminophen) to control fever until the illness has run its course. Careful hand washing, especially after using the toilet and before handling food, and proper disposal of human wastes can help to prevent the spread of infection.

The following diseases are among those caused by the enteroviruses.
Aseptic Meningitis

This inflammation of the membrane covering the brain causes headache, pain and stiffness in the neck and back, fever, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and a general sick feeling. Most patients recover from aseptic meningitis in a week or so, but the disease may be fatal for newborns.
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

In this disease, which is common in young children, little blisters erupt all over the mucous membranes in the mouth, on the hands and feet (including the palms and soles), and sometimes in the diaper area. A low-grade fever is also somewhat common.
Herpangina

An epidemic disease in infants and young children, herpangina is marked by sudden high fever, headache, sore throat, vomiting, and the appearance of grayish spots on the soft palate (rear roof of the mouth), tonsils, or throat. The spots become shallow ulcers and heal in three to six days.
Myocarditis and Pericarditis

Possibly fatal heart failure in newborns may result from myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) caused by coxsackieviruses or echoviruses transmitted to the baby by the mother. Myocarditis and pericarditis (inflammation of the sac around the heart) in older children and in adults may also be caused by a coxsackievirus; patients usually make a complete recovery, although congestive heart failure can occur.
Paralytic Disease

Various echoviruses, coxsackieviruses, and polioviruses can produce muscle weakness or paralysis that is similar to the paralysis commonly seen in poliomyelitis and is treated in the same manner.
Pleurodynia

Sudden, recurrent pains in the lower chest or abdomen signal the onset of this illness, which is often accompanied by fever, headache, nausea, abdominal tenderness, and sore throat. The disease may spread to cause pleuritis (inflammation of the membrane sac surrounding the lungs and the lining of the chest cavity), pericarditis, or aseptic meningitis.
Poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis (also known as polio and infantile paralysis), caused by the three types of polioviruses, is a serious infection of the spinal cord, which can result in paralysis of all of the muscles. The symptoms of poliomyelitis include muscle soreness and stiffness of the neck and spine.

With the development of the polio vaccine, polio has been eradicated in the United States, but the threat remains if children are not routinely immunized.
Respiratory Disease

The enteroviruses can cause respiratory illnesses accompanied by head cold, fever, sore throat, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.
Rubellalike Rash

A mild rash like that of rubella (German measles), but lasting longer, usually occurs in epidemic form and only on the face, neck, and chest. Fever is common, and meningitis can develop, but usually this is a mild disease.



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