Epidemiological characteristics of children with hand, foot, and mouth disease and herpetic angina in Wenzhou City and their correlation with meteorological factors / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of children with hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and herpetic angina (HA) in Wenzhou City and the influence of meteorological factors on the pathogenesis, and to provide basis for early warning and disease prevention.Methods:A total of 62 809 children diagnosed with HFMD and 56 005 with HA in the 2nd Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children′s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University during 2012 to 2017 were enrolled. The meteorological factors during 2012 to 2017 were collected monthly. The data were analyzed using Spearman rank correlation and multivariant linear stepwise regression model.Results:The number of cases of HFMD and HA began to rise in the spring, and decreased after reaching the peak from May to July. Then there was a secondary peak from September to December, and the incidence decreased significantly in winter. Univariate correlation analysis showed that the effects of different meteorological factors on HFMD and HA were basically the same. Multivariant linear stepwise regression analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between monthly mean temperature (X) and the number of HFMD cases. The regression equation was Y=-161.450+ 53.828X ( F=22.250, P<0.01). Monthly mean relative humidity (X 1) and temperature (X 2) were positively associated with the number of HA cases. The regression equation was Y=-3 521.196+ 46.814X 1+ 41.762X 2 ( F=18.351, P<0.01). Conclusions:The trends of onset time of HFMD and HA are similar. The meteorological factors are closely related to HFMD and HA, and their incidence trends are significantly affected by meteorological changes.