Study on Risk Factors for Severe Hand,Foot and Mouth Disease in China

Background

Epidemics of HFMD are elevated every year globally, especially in mainland China. The disease now presents as an increasing threat to public health worldwide.

Methods

Five hundred and seventy-one EV71-infected HFMD patients in Beijing You''an Hospital were grouped by disease severity: Mild (no severe complication) (n = 221), and Severe group (complicated with brainstem encephalitis (BE), and/or pulmonary edema (PE) (n = 350)). Clinical and laboratory findings and levels of 7 serum cytokines were analyzed.

Results

Univariate analysis showed that (RR)>26/min (p<0.001), age<4 yo (p = 0.001), GLU>8.3 mmol/L (p = 0.008), CL<98 mmol/L (p = 0.026), and WBC>1.2×10⁹/L (p = 0.040) were associated with severe cases. Results of multivariate analysis indicated five independent risk factors (RR>26/min (p<0.001), Age<4 yo (p<0.001), GLU>8.3 mmol/L (p = 0.011), LYM>40% (p = 0.010), and ALT>40 U/L (p = 0.045)). In addition to single-factor analysis, we further analyzed the use of different combinations of risk factors. “GLU>8.3 and CL<98 and RR>26” (confidence ration (CR) = 100%) is the top indicator, followed by “ALT>40 and LYM>40% and RR>26 and Age<4 yo” (CR = 92.9%).Serum levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IFNγ, GM-CSF, and TNFα were higher in severe cases than in mild cases. A new evaluation scoring system by scoring each risk factor 1 and independent risk factor 2 was developed for early identification of severe HFMD cases.

Conclusions

Five independent risk factors, along with indicative combinations of risk factors, for severe cases were identified, and a scoring system was created to facilitate the use of indicators for early medical intervention.     

Clinical Features for Mild Hand,Foot and Mouth Disease in China

Background

Mild hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is at a critical stage owing to its ease of communicability and a higher risk of developing severe complications and death. Clinical diagnosis of mild HFMD was made by the presenting symptoms and signs (symptoms in brief) alone. We aim to evaluate the frequencies of symptoms in a retrospective case series study.

Methods

We collected epidemiological, demographic, clinical, and laboratory data from outpatient and inpatient settings on the clinical data warehouse system. We principally described the frequencies of symptoms of mild HFMD. Correlations between symptoms with laboratory-confirmed cases were then analyzed.

Results

The clinical data warehouse system included 3649 probable cases, between 2010 and 2012, of which 956 (26.20%) were laboratory confirmed. The peak incidence was identified in children 2 years of age. A total of 370 of the 956 laboratory confirmed cases (38.70%) were associated with enterovirus 71 (EV71). Logistic regression analysis adjusted for geographical variables, age, sex, month of onset, and time from onset to diagnosis showed that the clinical features constipation (P<0.0001; adjusted OR, 95%CI (2.99, 2.28–3.91)), and blisters (P<0.0001; adjusted OR, 95%CI (2.16, 1.82–2.56)) were positively correlated with the confirmed cases.

Conclusions

This is the largest case series study, including all the guideline-mentioned symptoms of mild HFMD. Our findings suggest that blisters and constipation should be considered as potential warning signs while front-line clinicians manage surges of children diagnosed with mild HFMD during a pandemic.     

Spatiotemporal Cluster Patterns of Hand,Foot, and Mouth Disease at the County Level in Mainland China, 2008-2012

Background

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is known to be a highly contagious childhood illness. In recent years, the number of reported cases of HFMD has significantly increased in mainland China. This study aims at the epidemiological features, spatiotemporal patterns of HMFD at the county/district level in mainland China.

Methods

Data on reported HFMD cases for each county from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2012 were obtained from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Cluster analysis, spatial autocorrelation, and retrospective scan methods were used to explore the spatiotemporal patterns of the disease.

Results

The annual incidences varied greatly among the counties, ranging from 0 to 74.31‰ with the median of 5.42‰ (interquartile range: 1.54‰–13.55‰) during 2008–2012 in mainland China. Counties close to provincial capital cities generally had higher incidences than rural counties. A seasonal distribution was observed between the northern and southern China, of which dual epidemic were shown in southern China and usually only one in northern China. Based on the global and local spatial autocorrelation analysis, we found that the spatial distribution of HFMD was presented a significant clustering pattern for each year (P<0.001), and hotspots of the disease were mostly distributed in coastal provinces of China. The retrospective scan statistic further identified the dynamics of spatiotemporal clustering areas of the disease, which were mainly distributed in the counties of eastern and southern China, as well as provincial capitals and their surrounding counties.

Conclusions

The spatiotemporal clustering areas of the disease identified in this way were relatively stable, and imminent public health planning and resource allocation should be focused within those areas.     

手足口病的流行病学特征及防治对策

手足口病是由多种肠道病毒引起的常见传染病,多发生于学龄前儿童。近年来我国许多地方不断报道有手足口病的暴发流行,且并发症发生率和病死率也有增高的趋势。2008年,我国将手足口病纳入《传染病防治法》丙类传染病管理。本文对手足口病的病原学及流行病学特征、临床症状及诊断、预防、治疗措施等进行了综述。     

致手足口病肠道病毒的病原学研究进展

手足口病是一种多病原体引起的儿童常见传染病,少数患者会进展为重症甚至死亡,对公共卫生造成巨大影响.目前国内虽已研制出EV71灭活疫苗并上市使用,对其它病毒所致手足口病并无交叉保护作用,并不能从总体上降低手足口病的发病率,在应对多种病原体的疫苗问世前,对手足口病病原体的基因进化监测、流行特征和病原学研究仍然是防控手足口病的重要措施.本文就手足口病在病原学方面的研究进展进行综述,为该病的科学防控提供有价值的信息.     

2007年北京地区儿童手足口病病原的初步筛查

2007年4～6月儿童手足口病流行期间,对北京地区51例皮损症状典型、伴/不伴发热、无重症合并症的手足口病患儿采样,建立RT-PCR方法,以5'非编码区(5'UTR)肠道病毒通用引物、CA16和EV71 VP1区特异性引物直接对82份临床标本进行了初步筛查,肠道病毒阳性率达70.6%。检测病例中CA16阳性25例(25/51)、EV71阳性4例(4/51)、非CA16和EV71的肠道病毒阳性病例7例(7/51),三者比例约为6:1:2。2007年北京地区儿童轻症手足口病主要病原包括CA16和EV71,同时还存在一定比例其它肠道病毒。部分EV71毒株经测序验证及系统进化分析显示为C4基因亚型。     

Cyclical Patterns of Hand,Foot and Mouth Disease Caused by Enterovirus A71 in Malaysia

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) is an important emerging pathogen causing large epidemics of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in children. In Malaysia, since the first EV-A71 epidemic in 1997, recurrent cyclical epidemics have occurred every 2–3 years for reasons that remain unclear. We hypothesize that this cyclical pattern is due to changes in population immunity in children (measured as seroprevalence). Neutralizing antibody titers against EV-A71 were measured in 2,141 residual serum samples collected from children ≤12 years old between 1995 and 2012 to determine the seroprevalence of EV-A71. Reported national HFMD incidence was highest in children <2 years, and decreased with age; in support of this, EV-A71 seroprevalence was significantly associated with age, indicating greater susceptibility in younger children. EV-A71 epidemics are also characterized by peaks of increased genetic diversity, often with genotype changes. Cross-sectional time series analysis was used to model the association between EV-A71 epidemic periods and EV-A71 seroprevalence adjusting for age and climatic variables (temperature, rainfall, rain days and ultraviolet radiance). A 10% increase in absolute monthly EV-A71 seroprevalence was associated with a 45% higher odds of an epidemic (adjusted odds ratio, aOR1.45; 95% CI 1.24–1.69; P<0.001). Every 10% decrease in seroprevalence between preceding and current months was associated with a 16% higher odds of an epidemic (aOR = 1.16; CI 1.01–1.34 P<0.034). In summary, the 2–3 year cyclical pattern of EV-A71 epidemics in Malaysia is mainly due to the fall of population immunity accompanying the accumulation of susceptible children between epidemics. This study will impact the future planning, timing and target populations for vaccine programs.     

咸阳市2016-2019年手足口病病原学检测分析

本文通过对咸阳市2016-2019年手足口病(Hand,foot and mouth disease,HFMD)病原检测结果进行分析,阐明了咸阳市近四年HFMD病原谱的构成和流行特征,为HFMD防控工作提供依据.对2016-2019年收集的2711例HFMD病例标本进行荧光定量PCR检测确定肠道病毒型别,构建咸阳市HFMD病原谱并对阳性病例的流行特征进行描述性分析.2711例HFMD病例实验室确诊1444例(阳性率为53.26％),其中肠道病毒A组71型(Enterovirus 71,EV71)占病原谱构成的 12.74％、柯萨奇病毒 A组 16型(Coxsackievirus A16,CoxA16)占27.49％、柯萨奇病毒 A组 10型(Coxsackievirus A10,CoxA10)占5.19％、柯萨奇病毒 A 组6型(Coxsackievirus A6,CoxA6)占43.21％、其他肠道病毒(Enterovirus,EV)占11.36％.CoxA6和CoxA16交替居于咸阳市HFMD病原谱首位.咸阳市HFMD流行具有明显季节性和地区差异以及特定人群高发,夏季(5～7月)为发病主高峰,秋冬季(10～11月)为次高峰,主要集中在人口较多的市区,4岁以下散居儿童为易感人群,且男性发病率高于女性.今后的防控工作中应继续加强咸阳市HFMD监测,重视其他EV的监测工作,实时监测HFMD病原谱的变化.在高发季节,针对高发人群,采取积极有效干预措施,加强防控工作.     

TnT-Hs和NSE在手足口病患儿中的表达水平及临床意义

目的：探讨TnT-Hs和NSE水平在手足口病患儿中的表达及临床意义。方法：选择我院2012年6月-2013年6月确诊为手足口病的住院患儿68例作为观察组,选择同期入院健康体检的68例正常儿童作为对照组,对比两组心肌钙蛋白T（TnT—Hs）与血清神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）水平;并对观察组EV71阳性患儿与阴性患儿TnT-Hs与NSE水平进行比较。结果：①相比健康对照组,观察组TnT-Hs与NSE水平均较高,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。②EV71阳性患儿46例,阴性患儿22例,阳性患儿相比阴性患儿TnT-Hs与NSE水平较高,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：Tn—T-Hs和NSE水平可反映手足口病患儿病情进展变化,其可作为早期预测手足口病患儿心肌损害及脑损伤的依据及重症病例的预警指标。     

TnT-Hs和NSE在手足口病患儿中的表达水平及临床意义

目的:探讨TnT-Hs和NSE水平在手足口病患儿中的表达及临床意义。方法:选择我院2012年6月~2013年6月确诊为手足口病的住院患儿68例作为观察组,选择同期入院健康体检的68例正常儿童作为对照组,对比两组心肌钙蛋白T(TnT-Hs)与血清神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)水平;并对观察组EV71阳性患儿与阴性患儿TnT-Hs与NSE水平进行比较。结果:1相比健康对照组,观察组TnT-Hs与NSE水平均较高,差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。2EV71阳性患儿46例,阴性患儿22例,阳性患儿相比阴性患儿TnT-Hs与NSE水平较高,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:Tn-T-Hs和NSE水平可反映手足口病患儿病情进展变化,其可作为早期预测手足口病患儿心肌损害及脑损伤的依据及重症病例的预警指标。     

Hand,Foot, and Mouth Disease in China: Modeling Epidemic Dynamics of Enterovirus Serotypes and Implications for Vaccination

Background

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common childhood illness caused by serotypes of the Enterovirus A species in the genus Enterovirus of the Picornaviridae family. The disease has had a substantial burden throughout East and Southeast Asia over the past 15 y. China reported 9 million cases of HFMD between 2008 and 2013, with the two serotypes Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) and Coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) being responsible for the majority of these cases. Three recent phase 3 clinical trials showed that inactivated monovalent EV-A71 vaccines manufactured in China were highly efficacious against HFMD associated with EV-A71, but offered no protection against HFMD caused by CV-A16. To better inform vaccination policy, we used mathematical models to evaluate the effect of prospective vaccination against EV-A71-associated HFMD and the potential risk of serotype replacement by CV-A16. We also extended the model to address the co-circulation, and implications for vaccination, of additional non-EV-A71, non-CV-A16 serotypes of enterovirus.

Methods and Findings

Weekly reports of HFMD incidence from 31 provinces in Mainland China from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2013 were used to fit multi-serotype time series susceptible–infected–recovered (TSIR) epidemic models. We obtained good model fit for the two-serotype TSIR with cross-protection, capturing the seasonality and geographic heterogeneity of province-level transmission, with strong correlation between the observed and simulated epidemic series. The national estimate of the basic reproduction number, R ₀, weighted by provincial population size, was 26.63 for EV-A71 (interquartile range [IQR]: 23.14, 30.40) and 27.13 for CV-A16 (IQR: 23.15, 31.34), with considerable variation between provinces (however, predictions about the overall impact of vaccination were robust to this variation). EV-A71 incidence was projected to decrease monotonically with higher coverage rates of EV-A71 vaccination. Across provinces, CV-A16 incidence in the post-EV-A71-vaccination period remained either comparable to or only slightly increased from levels prior to vaccination. The duration and strength of cross-protection following infection with EV-A71 or CV-A16 was estimated to be 9.95 wk (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.31, 23.40) in 68% of the population (95% CI: 37%, 96%). Our predictions are limited by the necessarily short and under-sampled time series and the possible circulation of unidentified serotypes, but, nonetheless, sensitivity analyses indicate that our results are robust in predicting that the vaccine should drastically reduce incidence of EV-A71 without a substantial competitive release of CV-A16.

Conclusions

The ability of our models to capture the observed epidemic cycles suggests that herd immunity is driving the epidemic dynamics caused by the multiple serotypes of enterovirus. Our results predict that the EV-A71 and CV-A16 serotypes provide a temporary immunizing effect against each other. Achieving high coverage rates of EV-A71 vaccination would be necessary to eliminate the ongoing transmission of EV-A71, but serotype replacement by CV-A16 following EV-A71 vaccination is likely to be transient and minor compared to the corresponding reduction in the burden of EV-A71-associated HFMD. Therefore, a mass EV-A71 vaccination program of infants and young children should provide significant benefits in terms of a reduction in overall HFMD burden.     

2007年内蒙古一起手足口病暴发的流行病学和病原学分析

2007年内蒙古自治区鄂尔多斯市准格尔旗暴发了一起手足口病疫情,患者大多出现发热症状,在手、足、口腔和臀部等一个或多个部位出现斑丘疹或疱疹。患者以5岁以下散居幼儿为主,暴发过程中有一个明显的发病高峰。从28名住院儿童采集了23份粪便标本和6份咽拭子标本进行病毒分离,共分离到了15株肠道病毒,其中9株鉴定为人肠道病毒71型(HEV71,分离率为31.03%),1株鉴定为柯萨奇病毒A组16型(CVA16)。结合分析这起暴发中患者的临床表现、流行病学调查结果以及实验室检测结果,表明HEV71可能是引起这起HFMD暴发的主要病原体。9株HEV71分离株在全长VP1区核苷酸水平和氨基酸水平上差异都较小,核苷酸和氨基酸同源性分别高于99.4%和99.0%,说明这起疫情是由同一个病毒传播链引起的。同源性进化分析结果表明,从这起疫情中分离到的HEV71属于C4基因亚型,而C4基因亚型自1998年首次在广东省深圳市报道以来,一直在我国持续流行,是中国大陆HEV71流行的优势基因亚型,提示C4基因亚型HEV71在中国大陆可能有较广泛的分布和传播。     

Epidemiological Characteristics and Spatial-Temporal Clusters of Hand,Foot, and Mouth Disease in Zhejiang Province,China, 2008-2012

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is one of the major public health concerns in China. Being the province with high incidence rates of HFMD, the epidemiological features and the spatial-temporal patterns of Zhejiang Province were still unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and the high-incidence clusters, as well as explore some potential risk factors. The surveillance data of HFMD during 2008–2012 were collected from the communicable disease surveillance network system of Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The distributions of age, gender, occupation, season, region, pathogen’s serotype and disease severity were analyzed to describe the epidemiological features of HFMD in Zhejiang Province. Seroprevalence survey for human enterovirus 71 (EV71) in 549 healthy children of Zhejiang Province was also performed, as well as 27 seroprevalence publications between 1997 and 2015 were summarized. The spatial-temporal methods were performed to explore the clusters at county level. Furthermore, pathogens’ serotypes such as EV71 and coxsackievirus A16 (Cox A16) and meteorological factors were analyzed to explore the potential factors associated with the clusters. A total of 454,339 HFMD cases were reported in Zhejiang Province during 2008–2012, including 1688 (0.37%) severe cases. The annual average incidence rate was 172.98 per 100,000 (ranged from 72.61 to 270.04). The male-to-female ratio for mild cases was around 1.64:1, and up to 1.87:1 for severe cases. Of the total cases, children aged under three years old and under five years old accounted for almost 60% and 90%, respectively. Among all enteroviruses, the predominant serotype was EV71 (49.70%), followed by Cox A16 (26.05%) and other enteroviruses (24.24%) for mild cases. In severe cases, EV71 (82.85%) was the major causative agent. EV71 seroprevalence survey in healthy children confirmed that occult infection was common in children. Furthermore, literature summary for 26 seroprevalence studies during 1997–2015 confirmed that 0–5 years group showed lowest level of EV71 seroprevalence (29.1% on average) compared to the elder children (6–10 years group: 54.6%; 11–20 years group: 61.8%). Global positive spatial autocorrelation patterns (Moran’s Is>0.25, P<0.05) were discovered not only for mild cases but also for severe cases, and local positive spatial autocorrelation patterns were revealed for counties from the eastern coastal and southern regions. The retrospective space-time cluster analysis also confirmed these patterns. Risk factors analyses implied that more EV71 and less sunshine were associated with the clusters of HFMD in Zhejiang Province. Our study confirmed that Zhejiang Province was one of the highly epidemic provinces in China and that the epidemiological characteristics of HFMD were similar to other provinces. Occult infection in elder children and adults was one of the important reasons why most HFMD cases were children aged under-five. Combining the results of spatial autocorrelation analysis and the space-time cluster analysis, the major spatial-temporal clusters were from the eastern coastal and southern regions. The distribution of pathogens’ serotypes and the level of sunshine could be risk factors for, and serve as an early warning of, the outbreak of HFMD in Zhejiang Province.     

手足口病并发病毒性脑炎患儿的临床观察及护理

回顾性分析了52例手足口病并发病毒性脑炎的患儿的护理。总结护理经验：通过仔细的病情观察及早发现神经系统受累症状,采取早期干预,给予对症、饮食、口腔、皮肤、心理等护理措施,以阻止疾病发展,促进患儿早日康复。本组52例患儿均治愈出院,平均住院时间11.5天,无明显后遗症发生。     

Comparative Study of the Cytokine/Chemokine Response in Children with Differing Disease Severity in Enterovirus 71-Induced Hand,Foot, and Mouth Disease

Background

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection can lead to a rapidly progressing, life-threatening, and severe neurological disease in young children, including the development of human hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). This study aims to further characterize the specific immunological features in EV71–mediated HFMD patients presenting with differing degrees of disease severity.

Methodology

Comprehensive cytokine and chemokine expression were broadly evaluated by cytokine antibody array in EV71–infected patients hospitalized for HFMD compared to Coxsackievirus A16-infected patients and age-matched healthy controls. More detailed analysis using Luminex-based cytokine bead array was performed in EV71–infected patients stratified into diverse clinic outcomes. Additionally, immune cell frequencies in peripheral blood and EV71–specific antibodies in plasma were also examined.

Principal Findings

Expression of several cytokines and chemokines were significantly increased in plasma from EV71–infected patients compared to healthy controls, which further indicated that: (1) GM-CSF, MIP-1β, IL-2, IL-33, and IL-23 secretion was elevated in patients who rapidly developed disease and presented with uncomplicated neurological damage; (2) G-CSF and MCP-1 were distinguishably secreted in EV71 infected very severe patients presenting with acute respiratory failure; (3) IP-10, MCP-1, IL-6, IL-8, and G-CSF levels were much higher in cerebrospinal fluid than in plasma from patients with neurological damage; (4) FACS analysis revealed that the frequency of CD19⁺HLADR⁺ mature B cells dynamically changed over time during the course of hospitalization and was accompanied by dramatically increased EV71–specific antibodies. Our data provide a panoramic view of specific immune mediator and cellular immune responses of HFMD and may provide useful immunological profiles for monitoring the progress of EV71–induced fatal neurological symptoms with acute respiratory failure.     

The Cytokine and Chemokine Profiles in Patients with Hand,Foot and Mouth Disease of Different Severities in Shanghai,China, 2010

Background and purpose

Systemic upregulation of inflammatory cytokines is characteristic of critical severe hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) with pulmonary edema. Thus, immunomodulatory medicines such as steroids, including methylprednisolone, have been proposed to treat patients with severe HFMD in China, because it is postulated that inflammatory cytokines play a role in the development of severe complications. This study is to further investigate the inflammatory response in the relatively mild HFMD patients, and whether steroid treatment has a beneficial effect on the suppression of inflammation in HFMD patients.

Method

We measured the levels of 50 kinds of chemokines, cytokines, growth factors and soluble receptors in serum samples from control patients without HFMD and the HFMD patients with or without prior treatment of intravenous methylprednisolone.

Results

Our present study found that even relatively mild HFMD patients without central nervous system (CNS) complications had elevated serum levels of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-3, IL-6, IL-12p40, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which suggested systemic inflammation. In contrast, these patients also have decreased levels of other serum biomarkers, including IL-1Ra, IL-8, IL-16, soluble ICAM-1, CXCL-1, and CCL27. The dysregulation of cytokine and chemokine expression may be involved in CNS complications and unbalanced circulating leukocytes in HFMD patients. Surprisingly, patients treated with methylprednisolone had no difference in the expression levels of HFMD-associated biomarkers instead had slightly increased levels of IL-17A, which was not associated with the occurrence of HFMD.

Conclusion

Whether steroid treatment has any beneficial effect on the prognosis of HFMD patients requires to be further investigated.