Enteroviruses are a type of virus whose main means of replication is the gastrointestinal tract, causing symptoms such as fever, vomiting and sore throat. Enterovirus diseases are highly infectious and more common in children, as adults have a more developed immune system that responds better to infections.
The main enterovirus is poliovirus, which is the virus responsible for polio and which, when it reaches the nervous system, can cause paralysis of the limbs and impaired motor coordination. Transmission of the virus is mainly caused by the ingestion of food and/or water contaminated with the virus or by contact with people or objects also contaminated. Thus, the best way to prevent infections is to improve hygiene habits, in addition to vaccination, in the case of polio.
- The presence and/or absence of symptoms associated with enterovirus infection depends on the type of virus.
- Its virulence and the person’s immune system.
- In most cases of infection.
- Symptoms are not visible and the disease resolves naturally.
- However.
- In the case of children.
- Mainly.
- The immune system is underdeveloped.
- It is possible that symptoms such as headache.
- Fever.
- Vomiting.
- Sore throat.
- Sores on the skin and ulcers inside the mouth.
- Depending on the type of virus.
- As well as an increased risk of complications.
Enteroviruses can affect several organs, symptoms, and the severity of the disease depending on the affected organ. Thus, the main diseases caused by enterovirus are:
The transmission of enterovirus is mainly caused by consumption or contact with contaminated materials, with the faecal-oral route being the main route of infection. Contamination occurs when the enterovirus is ingested, with the digestive tract being the main site of multiplication of this virus, hence the name enterovirus.
In addition to fecal-oral transmission, the virus can also be transmitted through droplets scattered in the air, as enterovirus can also cause damage to the throat, but this form of transmission is less common.
Enterovirus infection during the gestational period poses a risk to the baby when the infection is not identified and treatment is initiated in the baby shortly after birth. In fact, the baby may be in contact with the virus even during pregnancy and, after birth, due to the low development of his or her immune system, develops signs and symptoms characteristic of sepsis, in which the virus reaches the bloodstream and spreads easily through other organisms.
Therefore, enterovirus can reach the central nervous system, liver, pancreas and heart and cause multiple failures in the baby’s organs within a few days, resulting in death. Therefore, it is important that enterovirus infection is identified during pregnancy to start treatment in the baby and prevent complications shortly after birth.
Treatment of enterovirus infections is intended, in most cases, to relieve symptoms, as there is no specific treatment for most infections caused by enterovirus. Symptoms of the infection usually go away on their own after a while, but when the enterovirus reaches the bloodstream or central nervous system, it can be fatal and require treatment according to the doctor’s recommendations.
If the central nervous system is affected, your doctor may recommend immunoglobulin, so your body can fight the infection more easily. Some medicines are being tested to prevent enterovirus infection, but have not yet been regulated or circulated.
Currently, there is only one vaccine against the enterovirus responsible for polio, poliovirus, and the vaccine should be given in 5 doses, the first being 2 months of age.In the case of other types of enterovirus, it is important to adopt hygiene measures and have access to the best sanitation conditions to avoid contamination of water used for consumption or other purposes, since the main route of transmission of these viruses is fecal.Oral.See when you get the polio vaccine.
The initial diagnosis of enterovirus infection is made from the clinical manifestations described by the patient, requiring laboratory tests to confirm the infection. Laboratory diagnosis of enterovirus infection is performed by molecular testing, mainly the polymerase chain reaction, also known as PCR, in which the type of virus and its concentration in the body is identified.
The virus can also be identified by isolating this virus into specific culture media to verify its replication characteristics.This virus can be isolated from various biological materials, such as faeces, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), discharge of throat and blood depending on the symptoms described by the person.In stool, enterovirus can be detected up to 6 weeks after infection and can be detected in the throat 3 to 7 days after the onset of infection.
Serological tests may also be requested to verify the immune system’s response to infection, but this type of test is not widely used to diagnose enterovirus infections.