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- They brought it from the resorts: there was an outbreak of the Coxsackie virus in Russia
They brought it from the resorts: there was an outbreak of the Coxsackie virus in Russia
Several outbreaks of the Coxsackie virus have swept across Russia. The infection was detected in different regions — from Arkhangelsk to the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Ufa and Vladimir. Izvestia explains the dangers of the Coxsackie virus and how to protect yourself from it.
Virus outbreak
Outbreaks of the Coxsackie virus swept through Russia. The infection could have been brought by tourists vacationing in warm countries during the velvet season, Vera Serezhina, an infectious disease specialist at the LabQuest medical company, told Izvestia.
The media reports outbreaks of diseases in Vladimir, Ufa, Tyumen, the Arkhangelsk Region and the Krasnoyarsk Territory — children under the age of six are most often ill.
The symptoms of the disease usually include high fever (up to 39 °C), sore throat, rashes on the hands, feet and oral mucosa. The virus is spread by contact and airborne droplets, as well as through dirty hands, food or water.
— Outbreaks of Coxsackie occur regularly. This is one of the typical summer and autumn infections: most often people get infected at resorts, and in September the infection returns to the cities along with tourists. This cyclicity is explained by the peculiarities of enteroviruses — they easily spread in close groups and kindergartens," Seryozhina noted.
She advised to follow hygiene rules, wash your hands more often and pay attention to the symptoms — if they appear, consult a doctor and diagnose them.
What is the Coxsackie virus?
The Coxsackie virus is one of the representatives of the enterovirus family that lives in the intestine and spreads through the body through the blood, explains Vladimir Neronov, an infectious disease specialist at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic).
— The varieties of the virus are divided into two large groups — A and B. The former more often affect the mucous membranes, causing rashes, stomatitis and even serous meningitis. The latter act more deeply, affecting internal organs and the central nervous system, which can cause patients to experience abdominal and chest pain, inflammation of the heart or liver," says the doctor.
At the same time, Vera Serezhina adds, a person can become infected several times with different variants of the virus. Unlike many other infections, persistent immunity to Coxsackie is not formed.
–– The peculiarity of the virus is that it can be transmitted not only through dirty hands and food, but also through water. It lasts up to two months in warm water, and up to several hours on surfaces and at temperatures around 30-35 °C. Therefore, most often foci of infection occur in swimming pools, water parks on playgrounds, outdoor cafes, zoos and other places where dozens of people are at the same time. In such conditions, anyone can become infected," Seryozhina notes.
Most often, children get Coxsackie, becoming infected from each other in a close team. The danger of the virus is also that a person becomes contagious even before the onset of symptoms and remains dangerous to others even after recovery, because Coxsackie particles can be excreted with intestinal contents for up to three weeks, concludes infectious disease specialist Neronov.
Signs of Coxsackie virus
Coxsackie's disease can be asymptomatic, but many patients experience fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, sore throat or stomach. Sometimes there is a hand—foot-mouth syndrome, in which painful blisters appear on the palms, feet and in the oral cavity. This pattern is most often observed in children, says Vladimir Neronov.
— Toddlers and teenagers under 15 years of age are most at risk, especially those attending kindergartens and schools. For newborns, the virus is dangerous because of weak immunity, and in pregnant women it can cause complications for the fetus. The elderly and patients with weakened immune systems are also at risk," the infectious disease specialist notes.
Although the disease is mild in most cases, it can lead to serious complications ranging from viral meningitis and encephalitis to myocarditis. Warning signs that require help include fever, vomiting, seizures, shortness of breath, chest or abdominal pain, drowsiness, and severe headache. In severe situations, it is necessary to call an ambulance.
— Sometimes the manifestations of the disease can be misleading and resemble other diseases, from acute respiratory viral infections to allergic reactions. Therefore, it is important to diagnose the disease in the laboratory and choose the right treatment," adds Vera Serezhina.
How to identify and treat Coxsackie
The fastest and most accurate method of Coxsackie's diagnosis is PCR analysis from the oropharynx. It is the oropharynx that is the site of the primary replication of the virus, so it can be detected there during the incubation period, sometimes before the first symptoms appear. The result of a smear can be obtained within a day, which helps the doctor to quickly confirm the diagnosis and, if necessary, isolate the patient.
— Coxsackie virus can also be detected in feces and other biomaterials by PCR. Serological methods based on the detection of antibodies are less informative in the acute phase, since antibodies appear only after 7-10 days — the diagnosis is confirmed only retrospectively, when the patient has already been ill, says Vera Serezhina.
According to her, there is no specific therapy against the Coxsackie virus. Treatment is mainly aimed at alleviating the condition and preventing complications: antipyretic drugs, correction of dehydration, support for the functioning of the heart and nervous system. With a good immune response, the disease lasts about a week and resolves on its own.
How to protect yourself from Coxsackie
The best protection against the Coxsackie virus is prevention. These include washing hands, vegetables and fruits, bathing only in permitted areas and avoiding contact with people who have characteristic rashes. It is important for parents to explain to their children the rules of behavior on vacation, to monitor hygiene and pay attention to the first signs of malaise.
"The virus is resistant to cold and alcohol, but it is destroyed at high temperatures and under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, so simply boiling water or heat treatment of products significantly reduces the risk of infection," notes Vladimir Neronov.
If symptoms appear, the doctor advises not to self-medicate - you need to undergo a laboratory test, with the results of which you should consult a doctor.
— Despite the frightening name, in most cases the infection proceeds relatively well. In order not to infect loved ones, after a vacation, if there is fever, nasal congestion and sore throat, you need to use special tests to examine the nasopharynx and oropharynx for pathogens. It is the risk of complications in children and elderly patients that makes the Coxsackie virus dangerous and requires careful attention to diagnosis and prevention, concludes Vera Serezhina.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
