Epidemiologic features and prevention countermeasures of 26 severe cases of hand, foot and mouth disease

Objective To analysis the epidemiological characteristics in infants with severe and fatal hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases,and investigate the major risk factors of HFMD, and reference methods to HFMD disease prevention and control. Methods 26 infants with severe and fatal HFMD in local area were enrolled in this study. The clinical manifestations, illness dynamic changes, auxiliary examinations, treatments and prognoses, spreading infection situation, etiology, and epidemiology test results were retrospectively analyzed. Results Of the 26 cases of severe and fatal HFMD, scattered children under 3 years old were in major (84.62%), and clinical syndromes were characterized by fever, bad spirit, rashes on the feet, mouth or hip. Most cases had the syndrome of purple lip defect, breathing difficulties, lethargy, twitching and other symptoms. The highest peak was in 7-8 months (80.77%). Children living in rural and fringe area were about 73.08%. Among 26 cases, 65.38% paid a visit to doctors 3 days later and 46.15% visit doctors at private clinics or village clinics. The main detected pathogens were EV17 and CoXA16 (52.63%). Conclusion Scattered children with 0~3 years old living in rural or fringe area were the major cases, prompting in children younger than 3 were the high-risk groups. Rural, fringe area and the floating population were the key areas to the prevention of HFMD. 3 days was the critical period for prevention of complications.