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Herpangina

JOYCE JOHNSON, MD Reviewed 06/2022
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Highly infectious viral disease caused most commonly by viruses within the Picornavirus family. This most commonly includes coxsackievirus, other enteroviruses, echovirus and human r...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Fever of relatively sudden onset

  • General malaise, anorexia, irritability, listlessness

  • Sore throat, painful oral lesions, drooling, coryza

  • Neck pain, headache, back pain

  • Diarrhea

PHYSICAL EXAM

TREATMENT

  • Benign, self-limited course

  • Symptoms typically abate in less than a week.

  • Symptomatic treatment

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Frequent hand washing

  • Palliative and supportive care; emphasize hydration

MEDICATION

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • No restrictions

  • As tolerated, with no limitations

DIET

  • Clear liquids

  • Cold beverages, milk, and ice cream are soothing. Hot, acidic beverages can be irritating.

PROGNOSIS

REFERENCES

1
Park  SH, Choi  SS, Oh  SA, et al. Detection and characterization of enterovirus associated with herpangina and hand, foot, and mouth disease in Seoul, Korea. Cl...

ADDITIONAL READING

Repass GL, Palmer WC, Stancampiano FF. Hand, food, and mouth disease: identifying and managing an acute viral syndrome. Cleve Clin J Med. 2014;81(9):537-543 ...

SEE ALSO

Herpes Simplex 

CODES

ICD10

B08.5 Enteroviral vesicular pharyngitis 

SNOMED

186659004 Herpangina 

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Herpangina occurs most commonly during summer months in children.

  • Coxsackievirus and other enterovirus are the most common causes of herpangina.

  • Proper hand hygiene protects against spre...

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