Abstract:
Objective To better understand the characteristics of coxsachie virus A6 (CVA6)-caused hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) with onychomadesis in Ninghai county of Zhejiang province and provide evidence for the prevention/control of CVA6-caused HFMD in the future.
Methods From 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2023, the incidence data of HFMD in Ninghai were obtained from China Disease Prevention and Control Information System, and the stool samples and/or pharynx swabs, lost nail, nail and new nail samples of HFMD cases were collected in different areas in Ninghai for the detection of enteroviruses and nucleic acid typing by fluorescence reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). All the cases with positive CVA6 nucleic acid results were included in the survey, and a 24-week follow-up survey was carried out.
Results In the 1336 cases of CVA6-caused HFMD, onychomadesis occurred in 533 cases (39.90%), the average nail count affected was 6.03, with an average of 3.86 ±3.01on fingers and 2.17±2.80 on toes, and 70.36% of onychomadesis occurred at day 15-42 (3-6W) after HFMD onset for an average of 33.56 days. There were no significant differences in the onset time, gender and area distributions between the cases of HFMD with onychomadesis and the cases of HFMD without onychomadesis(χ2=0.321, P=0.956, χ2=2.778, P=0.096, χ2=2.314, P=0.679), but there were significant differences in age distribution, incidence of fever, fever duration and skin rash site (except mouth) (all P<0.001). RT-PCR indicated that the positive rate of CVA 6 in 55 samples of lost nail was 94.55%. Both nail and new nail samples were negative for CVA6. No CVA6-caused HFMD occurred in the contacts exposed to lost nails.
Conclusion The study results indicated that the earlier onychomadesis occurred, the more nails lost. Onychomadesis was not associated with the onset time, gender and area distributions of HFMD cases, trace elements and fungi, but associated with the severity and age of the cases. The incidence of onychomadesis might be explained by the direct invasion of CVA6 to finger or toe nail, and onychomadesis might not be associated with the spread of HFMD.