Skip to content
knowrare
HealthSignal
Your condition community

Living with Congenital enterovirus infection

An infection a baby can catch before birth from enteroviruses, which can cause illness after birth and sometimes birth defects.

Understanding Congenital enterovirus infection

Congenital enterovirus infection is an infection that can happen to a baby before birth, caused by coxsackie virus and ECHO virus.

It can cause problems such as miscarriage, stillbirth, illness in the baby after birth and sometimes birth defects. It is seen during pregnancy and in newborns.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Fever
  • Irritability
  • Skin rash
  • Meningitis
  • Blood infection (sepsis)
  • Low platelet count

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Your doctor may refer you to a specialist who knows rare conditions.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

Care & treatment

Care team
A doctor familiar with rare conditions, plus specialists as needed
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
How can the infection be confirmed in my baby?
Which organs should be monitored?
What follow-up will my baby need?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startduring Pregnancy and as a Newborn

It is caused by coxsackie virus and enteric cytopathic human orphan (ECHO) virus passed to the baby before birth.

Infectious

Also known as: antenatal enterovirus infection; congenital enterovirus infectious disease; congenital infection caused by enterovirus; mother-to-child transmission of enterovirus infection

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Congenital enterovirus infectionGARD ID 2130 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Congenital enterovirus infection.

Explore the Congenital enterovirus infection blog

Explore research for Congenital enterovirus infection

Explore actively recruiting Congenital enterovirus infection studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Congenital enterovirus infection with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper

I can help you find recruiting Congenital enterovirus infection studies. Enter a ZIP code, address or city below and I'll look within 50 miles.

Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

Get Signals for Congenital enterovirus infection

Stay in the loop with community stories and updates from medical researchers.

HealthStoryfor Congenital enterovirus infection

Create a living journal that talks back

HealthStory evolves private journaling with a living AI journal that talks back and asks thoughtful questions, helping you capture your Congenital enterovirus infection experiences more deeply and prepare for better conversations with your doctors and care team.

Start your journal

Your journal is private. Sharing your story publicly is a separate choice, made with Share your story above.