Epidemiologic analysis of hand, foot and mouth disease in Changping district, Beijing,2008

Objective To uncover the epidemiologic characteristics of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Changping district, Beijing. Methods A descriptive epidemiological approach was employed to analyze the data of HFMD epidemics in Changping district in 2008. Results A total of 1786 HFMD cases were reported in Changping district in 2008 with the incidence rate of 247.08/lakh, ranking third in Beijing. The reported number of cases peaked in May, followed by a sharp decrease as of August. The highest incidence rate was shown in the 2-year-old group, 5835.04/lakh. Children under 4 years old accounted for 82.31% of all cases, while scattered and kindergarten children accounted for 49.94% and 44.57%, respectively. The incidence among boys was significantly higher than that among girls. High incidence rates were seen in urban-rural fringe areas and towns (streets) where there were high population density and massive floating population. EV71 and CoxA16 were the major pathogens of HFMD in Changping district. Conclusion Great importance should be attached to children younger than four years in HFMD prevention and control in Changping district. Long-term epidemic surveillance in conjunction with appropriate health education and promotion for infants and children, as well as nursing workers, in areas with high population density and massive floating population, would play a crucial role in HFMD prevention and control.