Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in South Bengal and Kolkata: A Study Over 5 Years to Evaluate Cases With Clinical Suspicion

Abstract

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a very infective infection. It's caused by viruses from the Enterovirus genus, among the Enterovirus genus coxsackievirus is most commonly found associated with Hand , Foot and Mouth disease. Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) causes rashes or vesicular lesions in the affected individuals and lesions are found in extremities and upper extremity lesion is more common along with feet and mouth. It is mostly seen in school going children, and causative agents are likely Enterovirus-A (EV-A) species, including Coxsackievirus-A16 (CV-A16) and Enterovirus-71 (EV-71) [1]. Hand , Foot and Mouth Disease is usullay mild and selimiting. In the affected patient's rst identied by a brief prodromal fever, followed by pharyngitis, mouth ulcers and rash on the hands and feet. The disease is caused by numerous members of the Enterovirus genus of the family Picornaviridae e.g. Coxsackievirus type A (CA) and Enterovirus 71 (EV71), and the clinical features are not identiable and distinguishable from virus to virus. [2] . Young children have the highest risk of getting hand, foot, and mouth disease. Risk increases if they attend daycare or school, as viruses can spread quickly in these facilities. Children usually build up immunity to the disease after being exposed to the viruses that cause it. This is why the condition rarely affects people over age 10. However, it's still possible for older children and adults to get the infection, especially if they have weakened immune systems. EV71 is a human enterovirus A species causing infection in clildren[3,4] . Clinically though it is mild symptoms and self limiting initially, such as a fever along with unraised colorless spots, and bumps on the hands, feet, and mouth. In some patients with severe disease several neurological complications (including cephalomeningitis, encephalitis, and neurogenic pneumonedema) and circulatory disorders. Occasionally, it even causes death [5]. Therefore, an early indicator of EV71 infection with neurological involvement is crucial for appropriate management [6]. Hand, foot, and mouth disease by enterovirus infection repots severe complications (such as brain stem encephalitis, neurogenic pulmonary edema, and other fatal complications) and a high mortality due to HFMD are more frequently related to EV71 infection[7,8] .