What is Bornholm Disease?

Bornholm disease is a viral infection characterized by very strong pains in the torso, usually in response to movement. This infection is rarely fatal, although infants can sometimes experience severe complications if they are infected. Treatment relies on providing the patient with supportive care while she or he recovers from the viral infection. Outbreaks occur most commonly during the warm months of the year.

The most common culprit behind Bornholm disease is the coxsackie A or B virus. The virus enters the body and manages to infect the intracostal muscles in the chest wall. When the patient breathes or moves, severe pains can move through the chest wall and abdomen. The pain can be so excruciating that the patient may be afraid to move, for fear of setting off another attack. It is sometimes described as being like an iron vise or band which clamps down on the body.

In addition to the distinctive pains, Bornholm disease is also associated with fever, headache, and a general sense of malaise. Symptoms usually start to appear around four days after exposure, and taper off in about a week. While the patient is ill, applying heat to the torso can help, as can taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to ease the inflammation. Patients may also discover that they experience relapses of the pain even after the virus is gone.

Bornholm disease is an example of an epidemic disease. People usually shed large amounts of the virus in their feces, and it spreads quickly by contact. One way to reduce the spread of an outbreak is to tighten up on handwashing, with people washing their hands before handling food, after using the restroom, and so forth. It is also important for doctors to wash between patients to avoid passing Bornholm disease on to a patient who does not have it. Hygiene is especially important in public buildings like schools and libraries where large numbers of potentially infected individuals may be present.

This infection, also known as “devil's grip” in a reference to the painful muscle spasms which accompany it, is named for a Danish island where it was first noted. When an outbreak of Bornholm disease occurs, tightening up on infection control protocols is an important first step in addressing the issue. It is also advisable to isolate people with compromised immune systems, as well as infants, as these people can be at risk if they contract Bornholm disease.