Fatal Infection in an Infant Associated with Coxsackie Virus Group A, Type 16

ALTHOUGH Coxsackie viruses Group B, Types 2–5, have been established as etiologic agents of encephalitis and myocarditis in infants, and 34 fatal cases within the first month of life have been associated with infection by these agents1 , 2 the role of Group A Coxsackie viruses in severe disease of infants is not clear.3 , 4 In a study of sudden unexpected death Gold and his associates5 reported isolation of Coxsackie viruses Group A, Type 4 or 8, from post-mortem specimens of 10 infants sixteen months of age or younger. The pathological findings showed that 7 infants had respiratory infections, 2 had congenital heart . . .