Bornholm's disease, also known as widespread myositis, widespread pleurodynia, is manifested by inflammation of the intercostal muscles, as well as, like with flu, fever, headache and throat pain. It is caused by the Coxsackie virus. It is also called "devil's flu" because the course is truly devilish. However, it is not a serious disease.

Bornholm's disease( epidemic pleurodynia ), also known ascommon myositis ,common pleurodynia , is a disease caused by the type B Coxsackie viruses belonging to enteroviruses. It begins suddenly, and because its main symptom is excruciating pain in the chest area, it can be quite disturbing. Sometimes the family calls an ambulance thinking that the patient may have a heart attack. However, Bornholm's disease is not serious and it passes fairly quickly, actually spontaneously.

Pain does not come from the heart, as it seems, but from the intercostal muscles, sometimes also from the pleura, where inflammation develops. The disease is transmitted through the digestive tract - it can be caught by eating from the same dishes or by kissing - and in rather warm weather. Bornholm's disease can affect anyone, regardless of age. Its name comes from the Danish island of Bornholm. In 1933, Ejnar Sylvest described the outbreaks of this disease occurring there. However, the infection was first identified and described by Daae-Finsen in 1872 - he reported an epidemic of "acute muscular rheumatism" in the Norwegian Bamble community.

Symptoms of Bornholm Disease

  • pleurodynia, which is a sudden pain located in the chest (more often in adults), mostly to the side, which increases with movement. Pain may also appear in the lower chest and upper abdomen (more common in children), and the chest may be swollen and tender;
  • fever - approx. 39 degrees C., high temperature lasts for approx. 2 days, then passes;
  • headache;
  • dizziness;
  • sore throat;
  • feeling of general weakness and breakdown;
  • breathlessness sometimes because sore muscles make breathing difficult.

Treatment and prevention of Bornholm disease

Bornholm's disease lasts for about a week (and does not come back), and the chest pain lasts for about 2-4 days, then subsides. Importanthowever, it is important to rule out pleurisy when making a diagnosis. The count of white blood cells in the blood count and the chest X-ray are usually normal. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are given to alleviate the symptoms, but the most important thing is that the sick person simply stays at home and rests warm. You also need to be hydrated properly. "Past" Borhholm's disease, like the flu, can have serious complications:

  • meningitis
  • testicular inflammation
  • pericarditis
  • myocarditis

It is true that these complications are rare, in about 5% of patients, but still, this risk should not be underestimated. Most often contracting the Bornholm disease occurs in large clusters, e.g. in swimming pools, in kindergartens. When it comes to prophylaxis, only proper hygiene can reduce the risk of getting sick.

Worth knowing

Coxsackie viruses cause a number of diseases, including: Bornholm's disease, Boston rash (hand, foot and mouth), common cold, pharyngitis, herpangina, testicular inflammation, summer diarrhea in infants, and many others. It can also cause a miscarriage in a pregnant woman or cause a perinatal infection in a child. It is also believed that the Coxsackie virus may cause type 1 diabetes. According to this theory, the virus destroys the beta cells of the pancreatic islets that produce insulin and thus leads to the development of the disease. It is worth adding that there is no vaccine against this virus, and having one disease caused by Coxsackie does not protect against another.

Category:

Infectious diseases