Enteroviral exanthems

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

General information

 *  mode of transmission: fecal-oral route (sometimes also via air)
 *  incidence: mainly in summer and autumn
 * affects young children more often
 * incubation period: 3–7 days

Clinical picture

 * manifestations are highly variable:
 * meningoencephalitis - aseptic meningitis + rash (may resemble meningococcal sepsis)
 * pleurodynia
 * myocarditis
 * hand-foot-mouth disease - painful blisters on the hands, feet, mouth and tongue
 * herpangina - blisters and sores on the soft palate and uvula
 * poliomyelitis (polio) - eradicated due to effective vaccination
 * fever, sometimes with catarrh, vomiting or diarrhea
 * soon after, there is a rash similar to measles or rubella - usually it is not itchy
 * fever lasts for about 3 days, the rash disappears within 3-7 days

Differential diagnosis

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