Coxsackievirus
noun
Cox·sack·ie·vi·rus
(ˈ)käk-ˌsa-kē-ˈvī-rəs
variants
or Coxsackie virus
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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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