Virus
Coxsackievirus
Enteroviruses of HFMD and myocarditis
kok-SAK-ee-VY-rus
High-yield clue
Group A causes hand-foot-and-mouth disease and herpangina, while group B is linked to myocarditis and pleurodynia.
Overview
A group of non-enveloped positive-sense RNA enteroviruses (groups A and B) that cause a spectrum of childhood and cardiac syndromes, useful for linking enterovirus vocabulary to distinctive presentations.
Classification
- RNA virus
- Positive-sense single-stranded RNA
- Non-enveloped icosahedral
- Family Picornaviridae, genus Enterovirus
Lab & identification clues
- Enterovirus classification concept
- Group A vs group B distinction
- Stool/throat/CSF detection vocabulary
- Vesicular lesion cytology concept
Associations
- Hand-foot-and-mouth disease and herpangina (group A)
- Myocarditis and pericarditis (group B)
- Pleurodynia (Bornholm disease) vocabulary
- Fecal-oral and respiratory-droplet spread
Commonly confused with
- Poliovirus
- Herpes simplex virus (oral lesions)
Frequently asked questions
What is Coxsackievirus?
A group of non-enveloped positive-sense RNA enteroviruses (groups A and B) that cause a spectrum of childhood and cardiac syndromes, useful for linking enterovirus vocabulary to distinctive presentations.
What are the lab clues for Coxsackievirus?
Lab clues for Coxsackievirus include Enterovirus classification concept, Group A vs group B distinction, Stool/throat/CSF detection vocabulary, and Vesicular lesion cytology concept.
What is Coxsackievirus commonly confused with?
Coxsackievirus is commonly confused with Poliovirus and Herpes simplex virus (oral lesions).
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.