Coxsackievirus

noun

Cox·​sack·​ie·​vi·​rus (ˈ)käk-ˌsa-kē-ˈvī-rəs 

variants or Coxsackie virus

(ˌ)käk-ˈsa-kē- 

or coxsackievirus or coxsackie virus

: any of numerous serotypes of three enteroviruses (species Human enterovirus A, Human enterovirus B, and Human enterovirus C) that are associated with mild to serious illness (such as sore throat, diarrhea, hand, foot and mouth disease, conjunctivitis, meningitis, and hepatitis)

Coxsackieviruses infect more than 20 million people annually in the United States and can cause illnesses ranging from a cold to an inflammation of the heart. However, most of the viruses are benign, so only about 10,000 infected people become ill.

—Tina Adler

Coxsackie viruses are transmitted from one person to the next through respiratory droplets or from foods, hands or utensils contaminated with the virus.

—Paul G. Donohue

Word History

Etymology

Coxsackie, New York

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

Coxsackievirus

noun

Cox·​sack·​ie·​vi·​rus

(ˈ)käk-ˌsak-ē-ˈvī-rəs

variants or Coxsackie virus or coxsackievirus or coxsackie virus

: any of numerous serotypes of three enteroviruses of the genus Enterovirus (species Human enterovirus A, Human enterovirus B, and Human enterovirus C) that are associated with mild to serious illness (such as sore throat, diarrhea, hand, foot and mouth disease, conjunctivitis, meningitis, hepatitis, and epidemic pleurodynia)

Coxsackieviruses infect more than 20 million people annually in the United States and can cause illnesses ranging from a cold to an inflammation of the heart. However, most of the viruses are benign, so only about 10,000 infected people become ill.

—T. Adler, Science News

Coxsackie viruses are transmitted from one person to the next through respiratory droplets or from foods, hands or utensils contaminated with the virus.

—Paul G. Donohue, The Valley News (White River Junction, Vermont)