Enteroviral exanthems

These are non-specific diseases caused by different serotypes of enteroviruses:
 * Coxsackie A and B
 * ECHO viruses
 * Polioviruses [1]

General information

 *  mode of spread : by fecal-oral route (sometimes also by air)
 *  occurrence : mainly in summer and autumn[1]
 * affects young children more often
 *  incubation : 3–7 days

Clinical picture

 * manifestations are highly variable:
 * meningoencephalitis - aseptic meningitis + rash (may resemble meningococcal sepsis)[1]
 * pleurodynia
 * myocarditis
 * hand syndrome ‚foot‚ mouth - painful blisters on the hands, feet, mouth and tongue
 * heparangina - blisters and sores on the soft palate and uvule[1]
 * poliomyelitis (polio) - eradicated due to effective vaccination[1]
 * fever, sometimes with catarrh, vomiting or diarrhea
 * soon there is a rash similar to measles or rubella - usually it doesn't itch
 * fever lasts about 3 days, the rash disappears within 3-7 days,

Differential diagnosis

 * we must distinguish from:
 * measles
 * allergic rash
 * sowing of petechiae in meningococcemia (presence of meningococci in the blood)