Mortality and death cases of hand foot and mouth disease reported in China, 2008 - 2010

Objective To understand the mortality and epidemiological characteristics of death cases of hand foot mouth disease (HFMD) in China from 2008 to 2010 and provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of HFMD. Methods Descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted on the incidence data of HFMD in China during this period collected from national disease reporting information system. Results The mortality as well as death cases of HFMD increased obviously from 2008 to 2010. The relative ratio with fixed base of death cases of HFMD in 2010 reached 718%, the mortality in males was higher than that in females. The median of interval between onset and death of the death cases was 3 days. Compared with recovered cases, the death cases were younger and had longer interval between onset and diagnosis, and the laboratory confirmation rate was higher among them too. Most death cases were young children aged 0-2 years and the peak of the death occurred during April-July. High death number was reported in Guangdong and Hebei for 3 consecutive years, and the high mortality was reported in Hainan and Guangxi for 2 consecutive years. Conclusion It is essential to fully implement the prevention and control measures for HFMD, seek medical service as early as possible and shorten the interval between onset and diagnosis to stop the increase of mortality and death cases of HFMD in China.