Enterovirus infections: A review of clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment

The enteroviruses are small, nonenveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses that belong to the family Picornaviridae and cause a variety of diseases. Composed of more than 70 serotypes, the enteroviruses are morphologically indistinguishable, ubiquitous pathogens with a worldwide distribution. Although most of the enterovirus infections commonly seen are relatively mild and result in complete recovery of the patient, these viruses can also cause severe and sometimes fatal illnesses such as meningitis, encephalitis, myocarditis, neonatal sepsis, and polio. With the advances of polymerase chain reaction technology in accurately identifying enteroviruses in patient fluids, as well as the recent development of new antiviral therapies, severe enterovirus infections are being diagnosed and treated earlier with better prognostic outcomes. With control of poliovirus infections in much of the world through the efforts of the World Health Organization, attention has turned to the nonpolio enterovirus infections, particularly their clinical manifestations, complications, diagnosis, and treatment.