Coxsackie Virus Alert

Just a warning to y'all. One of us just may die of this disease if we're not careful of and sensitive towards our own health.

Here's some info.

SYMPTOMS:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease, a type of coxsackie virus syndrome, causes painful red blisters in the throat and on the tongue, gums, inside of the cheeks, and the palms of hands and soles of the feet.

Herpangina, a coxsackie virus infection of the throat, causes red-ringed blisters and ulcers on the tonsils and soft palate, the fleshy back portion of the roof of the mouth.

Pleurodynia (also called Bornholm disease) is a related coxsackie virus infection that causes painful spasms in the muscles of the chest and upper abdomen. Boys with pleurodynia may also have pain in the testicles beginning about 2 weeks after the chest pain starts.

Hemorrhagic conjunctivitis is an infection that affects the whites of the eyes. Hemorrhagic conjunctivitis usually starts out as eye pain and is suddenly followed by red, watery eyes, swelling, light sensitivity, and blurry vision.

PREVENTION:
There is no vaccine to prevent coxsackie virus infection. Hand washing is the best prevention. Remind the members of 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.

Children who are sick with a coxsackie virus should be kept out of school or child care for a few days to avoid spreading the infection.


If you don't feel too good, better drop by at the hospital.
Concerned frater, Javier.