ABSTRACT
Objective To know the epidemiological characteristics of hand-foot-mouth disease in Yangpu District and provide evidence for specific strategies and measures of hand-foot-mouth disease activity prevention and control. Methods Descriptive analysis of the data from hand-foot-mouth disease epidemic situation in Yangpu District from 2005 to 2008 was made. Results 1 348 cases were reported in the whole Yangpu District from 2005 to 2008, and no severe cases, no death. The average morbidity in Yangpu District was 27.48/100 000. The male to female ratio was 1.46∶1. The infection occurred to infants aged from 1 year to 5 years (85.39%). The incidence of the native population children aged 2 to 3 exceeded 10/100 000. The season peak appeared from May to July (70.18%), and outbreaks used to occur at nurseries and kindergartens. The typical clinical presentations mainly included fever and rash. The rash mainly occurred to hands, feet, mouth, buttocks and so on. Conclusions Incidence varied significantly between different sexes, seasons and ages. It can cause large-scale epidemic in a short period of time, the epidemic was very difficult to control, but the leaders attach importance to take the early warning and monitoring, accuratey deal with emergencies, health education promotion and training of comprehensive measures, the epidemic can be effectively controlled.