Coxsackie Disease Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Coxsackie is a type of disease caused by the Coxsackie virus, which is a type of RNA Virus. This virus is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, namely bacteria from feces or feces that move from one person to another and enter the other person’s mouth. Transfer can also occur through the process of coughing, sneezing, touching the surface of the eyes, nose or mouth.
There are two types of Coxsackie viruses, namely:
- Group A is associated with infections of the skin and all mucous membranes, acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).
- Group B is associated with infections of the heart, pleura (thin lining that covers the lungs and lines the inner wall of the chest cavity), pancreas, liver, chest pain, and upper abdomen, myocarditis, pericarditis, and hepatitis.
- Virus attacks can occur at various age levels. However, the highest risk occurs in infants, especially children under the age of 10, and patients with impaired immune conditions.
Symptoms
The two groups of Coxsackie viruses share the same symptoms, namely fever for no apparent reason, rashes on the skin that changes color, texture and shape, as well as upper respiratory system disease. Other accompanying symptoms are usually a runny nose, sore throat, rashes on the palms and soles of the feet, as well as rashes in the mouth, tongue, gums and cheeks which are known as hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD ).
The Coxsackie virus is one of the main causes of aseptic meningitis. Recent research also states that there is a relationship between diabetes (with insulin) and Coxsackie Virus type-B infection.
Treatment
Coxsackie virus infection is actually mild and usually heals on its own. Therefore, there is usually no specific treatment because the body’s immune system can usually kill the virus. However, in patients with severe infections, treatment is carried out with supportive therapy, which helps boost the body’s immune system.
Always maintaining hand hygiene, and environmental cleanliness, and increasing public awareness about this disease is a good ways to prevent and control the spread of this virus.
Prevention
An effective way to prevent Coxsackie virus infection is to prevent the virus from moving. Be careful of things like splashes of blood, body fluids, including saliva, splashes when coughing, phlegm, fluids from wounds, urine, feces, skin and mucous membranes with open wounds. These things can be a source of spread of infection.
There are several things that can be done, namely:
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Keep your hands clean
Keep your hands clean – whether in the health facility environment, at school, daycare, dormitory, guest house, building hallways, and others. Clean your hands using soap and water or an antiseptic soap or hand sanitizer gel that contains at least 60% alcohol.
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Use of gloves
The use of gloves in areas prone to the spread of germs is an obligation to prevent contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, excretory fluids, as well as open wounds on the skin and mucosa. After removing gloves, immediately wash your hands thoroughly.
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Prevention by air
Clean air is very important because all the liquid splashes from the breath also have the potential to spread germs that cause infection. Some ways that can be done include:
- Cover nose and mouth with tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Immediately throw away the dirty tissue, then wash your hands well.
- Children, patients with low immunity, and the elderly should be about 1-2 meters away from infected people.
- In public or crowded places, patients with low immunity must wear a mask.
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Prevention through blood and body fluids
- Family members are prohibited from using personal items together – such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, clothes, and so on.
- Restricts range of motion in patients who have open skin wounds.
- Isolate infected patients.
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Prevention in clinic
- Drug administration with a single dose tube is more recommended than administration with a large tube.
- It takes one worker to supervise medicine tubes, insulin pens and finger blood-checking tools.
- Used needles must be disposed of immediately in a special disposal container.
- Cleaners should receive training to clean bed linen as well as clean every room.
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Environmental prevention
Bacteria and viruses can survive for a long time on surfaces. Because it requires cleaning by removing dirt and contaminated surfaces by scrubbing. Use detergent or antiseptic cleaning fluid, then rinse with water.
- Prevention for those with weak immune system or immunity
- To reduce the transfer of viruses through the air at home, you can do the following:
- To reduce dust, proper heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are required.
- Avoid exposure to dust and dirt from building construction during the wind season.
- Use a special mask such as the N95 mask type when going to and from the hospital.
- Avoid using a lot of carpet because it is a nesting place for mold spores. If you must use carpet, clean the carpet with a vacuum cleaner with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter regularly.
- In general areas avoid using presses and moisture enhancers.
- In the room avoid potted plants or fresh flowers.