Enterovirus infections: diagnosis and treatment.

Enteroviruses cause infections that present in diverse ways and affect people of all ages. Infections peak during summer and fall epidemics and cause 10 to 15 million symptomatic infections annually in the United States. The 70 enteroviral serotypes cause illness that ranges from nonspecific fevers and rashes to life-threatening myocarditis or central nervous system disease. These common infections create a significant burden on our society and healthcare system. New developments in rapid diagnosis of enterovirus infections using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positively affect patient management and have the potential to reduce the healthcare impact of enterovirus infection. The future holds promise for effective antiviral drugs that can treat enterovirus infections and decrease their significant morbidity and mortality.