Etiologic and epidemiologic analysis of hand, foot, and mouth disease in Guangzhou city: a review of 4,753 cases

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to review etiological and epidemiological data for hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) cases that occurred between 2008 and 2010 in Guangzhou City, to help develop and implement precautionary measures applicable for future outbreaks. METHODS: The characteristics of 4,753 HFMD episodes were retrospectively reviewed in 4,636 patients reported between 2008 and 2010 by the Guangdong Women and Children's Hospital, which is the national enterovirus monitoring agent and the designated hospital in China for treating severe HFMD. RESULTS: Out of 4,753 incident episodes rev...