OBJECTIVETo study the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics and the serum types of enterovirus of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in children.

METHODSThe RT-nPCR method was established with universal primers within 5' untranslated region of enterovirus and VP1 region of Coxsackievirus A16 (CAV16) and enterovirus 71 (EV 71). Enteroviruses were detected with RT-nPCR in 237 children with HFMD. Clinical and epidemiologic characteristics and serum types of enterovirus of the patients with HFMD were studied.

RESULTSThe patients'age ranged from 7 months to 11 years (mean 4.2 +/- 0.5 years). The majority (94.5%) were less than 6 years old. HFMD was mostly seen in spring and winter (67.9%). Oral mucosal pox or ulcer as well as hand and foot rashes were observed in all 237 patients. Fever occurred in 141 patients (59.5%). Of the 237 patients, 133 (56.1%) were RT-nPCR positive. Of the 133 cases, 38 were positive for EV71, 64 were positive for CAV16, and 31 were negative for both EV71 and CAV16. The patients infected by different types of enteroviruses had similar clinical characteristics. Gene colon and sequence analysis for 12 strains of enteroviruses PCR positive products presented as EV71 (n=5), CAV16 (n=5), ECHO13 (n=1), and CAV5 (n=1).

CONCLUSIONSHFMD tends to occur in younger children less than 6 years old. The majority are affected in spring and winter. EV71 and CAV16 are common pathogens of HFMD. There is no relationship between clinical characteristics and serum types of enteroviruses in HFMD patients.