coxsackie viruses are separable into two groups a and b which are based on their effects on newborn mice (coxsackie a results in muscle injury paralysis and death; coxsackie b results in organ damage but less severe outcomes. ) there are over 24 different serotypes of the virus (having distinct proteins on the viral surface). coxsackie viruses infect host cells and cause host cells to break open (lyse). type a viruses cause herpangina (painful blisters in the mouth throat hands feet or in all these areas). hand foot and mouth disease (hfmd) is the common name of this viral infection. coxsackie a 16 causes the majority of hfmd infections in the u. s. it usually occurs in children (age 10 and under) but adults can also develop the condition. this childhood disease should not be confused with the "foot and mouth disease" usually found in animals with hooves (for example cattle pigs and deer). type a also causes conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eyelids and white area of the eye). type b viruses cause epidemic pleurodynia (fever lung and abdominal pain with headache that lasts about two to 12 days and resolves). pleurodynia is also termed bornholm disease. there are six serotypes of coxsackie b (1-6 with b 4 considered by some researchers as a possible cause of diabetes in a number of individuals). both types of viruses (a and b) can cause meningitis myocarditis and pericarditis but these occur infrequently from coxsackie infections. some researchers suggest coxsackie virus (mainly coxsackie b4) has a role in the development of acute onset type i (formerly known as juvenile) diabetes but this relationship is still under investigation.
what are the types of coxsackie viruses and what can they cause?