Epidemiological and pathogenic characteristics of hand-foot-mouth disease in Jiading District of Shanghai from 2007 to 2016

ObjectiveTo explore the prevalence trend and pathogenic characteristics of hand-food-mouth disease(HFMD) in Jiading District of Shanghai from 2007 to 2016.

MethodsInformation on cases of hand-food-mouth disease in Jiading District from 2007 to 2016 was collected and analyzed.

ResultsThere were 37 520 reported cases from 2007 to 2016 with average age of 2.81 years old, in which 92.05% cases were aged 5 years old or below.The incidence rate showed fluctuation over years was from the lowest incidence of 217.03/10⁵ in 2015 to the highest of 461.83/10⁵ in 2016.There were 55.95% of reported cases from the period of April to July and 94.98% were from rural and urban-rural areas.Samples from 799 patients as pharynx swab and anal swab, etc.were found to be enterovirus 71 (EV71), the dominant pathogen, accounting for 44.56% of total isolation.There were 0.59% severe cases, 96.23% of which were positive of EV71.

ConclusionThe HFMD prevalence in Jiading District of Shanghai showed periodicity and seasonality.Children aged 5 years old below and living in non-urban areas showed higher incidence risk.EV71 is the dominant pathogen, especially for the severe cases.These findings suggested that targeted measures should be carried out according to the prevalence and pathogenic characteristics, strengthening the prevention and control of HFMD among preschool children in rural and urban- rural areas.