Enterovirus causes
**Core Concept**
Enteroviruses are a group of small, non-enveloped RNA viruses that belong to the Picornaviridae family. They are responsible for a wide range of diseases, from mild respiratory illnesses to severe neurological and cardiac complications.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Enteroviruses are known to cause a variety of diseases, including hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), herpangina, and aseptic meningitis. They primarily infect the gastrointestinal tract and can spread to other parts of the body, including the central nervous system, through a process called viremia. The exact mechanism of enterovirus infection involves the attachment of the virus to receptors on the surface of host cells, followed by the release of viral RNA into the cell cytoplasm, where it is translated into viral proteins and replicated.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because enteroviruses are not typically associated with the development of autoimmune disorders, although they may trigger an autoimmune response in some individuals.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because enteroviruses are not known to cause severe respiratory infections, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, which are more commonly associated with other types of viruses, such as influenza or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because enteroviruses are not typically associated with the development of cancer, although some viruses, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), are known to cause cancer.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Enteroviruses are highly contagious and can spread through direct contact with an infected person, contaminated food or water, or through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. They are most commonly spread during the summer and early fall months, when school-aged children are more likely to be infected.
**Correct Answer: D. Aseptic meningitis and other diseases, including hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and herpangina.**