Herpangina is caused by which virus?

• A. Coxsackie virus
• B. Herpes simplex virus
• C. Influenza virus
• D. Adenovirus

Answer: (A)

Herpangina is caused by an enterovirus, most commonly Coxsackie A virus. These small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA viruses spread via the fecal-oral route and often affect children. The illness presents with abrupt fever and painful vesicular or ulcerative lesions on the soft palate, uvula, and tonsillar pillars, with relative sparing of the anterior mouth and gingiva. This pattern helps distinguish it from herpes simplex virus infection, which causes gingivostomatitis with gingival inflammation, and from influenza or adenovirus, which don’t produce the characteristic posterior-oropharyngeal ulcers of herpangina. Management is supportive—fluids and analgesia—with symptoms resolving in several days.