RESUMO
@#Abstract: Objective To analyze the epidemic characteristics of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Nanping City, Fujian province and to provide the basis for formulating effective prevention and control measures as well as evaluating the efficacy of prevention and treatment. Methods Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the incidence data of HFMD in Nanping City from 2012 to 2021. Results A total of 49 231 cases of HFMD were reported in Nanping City from 2012 to 2021. The incidence fluctuated greatly over the 10-year period, ranging from 76.10/100 000 to 308.93/100 000, with an average incidence of 184.99/100 000 per year. The overall incidence and the number of cases showed a fluctuating downward trend over time, but the incidence was high in the next year, and there were statistically significant differences in the incidence rates between different years(χ2=8 169.176, P<0.001). There were significant regional differences in the incidence, the top three average annual incidence rates were: Guanze County (370.76/100 000), Zhenghe County (295.31/100 000) and Wuyishan City (250.31/100 000). There were two peaks of HFMD incidence each year, with the first occurring in May and June and the second occurring in September and October. The incidence rate was higher among males (215.86/100 000) than females (152.93/100 000), and males were more susceptible than females (RR=1.412, 95%CI=1.387-1.438). The cases were mainly aged 0-4 years, accounting for 86.25% (42 461/49 231) of all cases, and the incidence rate gradually decreased with increasing age (χ2trend=570,105.801, P<0.001). The majority of cases (85.22%, 41 953/49 231) occurred in children living in scattered areas, followed by children in kindergartens (12.39%, 6 101/49 231). The etiological results showed a total of 3 476 laboratory-confirmed cases, and the proportion of three (classes) of enterovirus positivity varied each year, with different pathogen compositions showing statistical significance (χ2=584.613, P<0.001). In addition to the years 2015-2017, during which Cox A16 and EV71 were the dominant strains, other years were dominated by other enteroviruses, with EV71 being the main type in severe and fatal cases of HFMD in Nanping City. Conclusion Nanping City should strengthen health education for children living in the diaspora and in day-care centers, enhance surveillance of epidemics and pathogenology, improve vaccination rates against EV71, focus on the detection and typing of other enteroviruses, and implement effective prevention and control measures for HFMD.