Hand, foot, and mouth disease in China, 2008-12: an epidemiological study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common childhood illness caused by enteroviruses. Increasingly, the disease has a substantial burden throughout east and southeast Asia. To better inform vaccine and other interventions, we characterised the epidemiology of hand, foot, and mouth disease in China on the basis of enhanced surveillance.

Methods

We extracted epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data from cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease reported to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention between Jan 1, 2008, and Dec 31, 2012. We then compiled climatic, geographical, and demographic information. All analyses were stratified by age, disease severity, laboratory confirmation status, and enterovirus serotype.

Findings

The surveillance regi

SUBMITTER: Xing W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4035015 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature