ECHO Virus Overview
Learn About ECHO Virus
Enteric cytopathic human orphan (ECHO) viruses are a group of viruses that can lead to infections in different parts of the body, and skin rashes.
Nonpolio enterovirus infection; Echovirus infection
Echovirus is one of several families of viruses that affect the gastrointestinal tract. Together, these are called enteroviruses. These infections are common. In the United States, they are most common in the summer and fall. You can catch the virus if you come into contact with stool contaminated by the virus, and possibly by breathing in air particles from an infected person.
Serious infections with ECHO viruses are much less common but can be significant. For example, some cases of viral meningitis (inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord) are caused by an ECHO virus.
Symptoms depend on the site of the infection and may include:
- Breathing difficulty and harsh cough (croup)
- Mouth sores
- Skin rashes
- Sore throat
- Chest pain if the infection affects the heart muscle or sac-like covering around the heart (pericarditis)
- Severe headache, mental status changes, fever and chills, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, if the infection affects the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
ECHO virus infections almost always clear up on their own. No specific medicines are available to fight the virus. Immune system treatment called intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) may help people with severe ECHO virus infections who have a weakened immune system. Antibiotics are not effective against this virus, or any other virus.
Peter Simmonds practices in Oxford, United Kingdom. Mr. Simmonds is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of ECHO Virus. His top areas of expertise are ECHO Virus, Parvovirus Antenatal Infection, Hepatitis C, and Hepatitis.
Enagnon Alidjinou practices in Lille, France. Alidjinou is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of ECHO Virus. Their top areas of expertise are ECHO Virus, Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Fetal Parvovirus Syndrome, and HIV/AIDS.
Sandra Pinkert practices in Berlin, Germany. Ms. Pinkert is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of ECHO Virus. Her top areas of expertise are ECHO Virus, Myocarditis, and Cardiomyopathy.
People who have the less severe types of illness should recover completely without treatment. Infections of organs such as the heart may cause severe disease and can be deadly.
Complications vary with the site and type of infection. Heart infections may be deadly, while most other types of infection improve and go away on their own.
Contact your health care provider if you have any of the symptoms listed above.
No specific preventive measures are available for ECHO virus infections other than hand-washing, especially when you are in contact with sick people. Currently, no vaccines are available.
Published Date: November 10, 2024
Published By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Roy and Diana Vagelos Professor in Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Romero JR. Enteroviruses. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 349.
Romero JR. Introduction to the human enteroviruses and parechoviruses. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 170.