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ECHO virus

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Illustrations

ECHO virus type 9 exanthem
ECHO virus type 9 exanthem
Antibodies
Antibodies

Alternative Names    Return to top

Nonpolio enterovirus infection

Definition    Return to top

Enteric cytopathic human orphan (ECHO) viruses are a group of enteroviruses that produce varying symptoms including rashes, respiratory illness, croup-like syndromes, and nonspecific fevers.

Causes    Return to top

ECHO virus infections are common and usually take the form of gastrointestinal infection and skin rashes.

More serious infections are seen less frequently but are of significant importance. As many as one out of five cases of aseptic meningitis (a brain infection not caused by bacteria) is thought to be caused by an ECHO virus.

Symptoms    Return to top

ECHO viruses cause a wide variety of conditions. Symptoms vary with the type of disease produced and can be found under the specific diagnosis:

Exams and Tests    Return to top

ECHO virus can be identified from throat, stool, and rectal swabs or from spinal fluid.

Treatment    Return to top

ECHO virus infections tend to clear up on their own. No specific antiviral medications are available.

An immune booster called IVIG may help immunocompromised patients with severe ECHO virus infections.

Outlook (Prognosis)    Return to top

Complete recovery without treatment is expected in patients who have the less severe types of illness. Infections of organs such as the heart (pericarditis and myocarditis) may cause severe disease and can be fatal.

Possible Complications    Return to top

Complications vary with the site and type of infection. Myocarditis and pericarditis may be fatal while other types of infection improve on their own.

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms suggestive of any of the diseases listed above.

Prevention    Return to top

No specific preventive measures are available for ECHO virus infections other than hand-washing, especially when in contact with sick people. Currently, no vaccines are available.

Update Date: 10/17/2006

Updated by: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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