1. Clinical and molecular characterization of hand-foot-and-mouth disease in Thailand, 2008-2009.
- Author
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Chatproedprai S, Theanboonlers A, Korkong S, Thongmee C, Wananukul S, and Poovorawan Y
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Child, Child, Preschool, Encephalitis, Viral mortality, Encephalitis, Viral virology, Enterovirus isolation & purification, Feces virology, Female, Hospitalization statistics & numerical data, Humans, Infant, Male, Molecular Sequence Data, Pharynx virology, RNA, Viral genetics, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Skin virology, Sputum virology, Thailand, Young Adult, Enterovirus classification, Enterovirus genetics, Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease pathology, Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease virology
- Abstract
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) is caused by a group of enteroviruses, most commonly coxsackievirus A 16 (CA16) and enterovirus 71 (EV71). In general, the disease is mild and self-limited except in the case of EV71 infections, which may incur serious complications. This research focused on virus characterization of HFMD cases in Thailand from 2008-2009, related clinical findings and complications of specific enterovirus subtypes. Specimens (stool, vesicle fluid, throat swab/sputum) from 48 cases were collected during 2008-2009. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by direct sequencing and phylogenetic analysis served to detect enterovirus and determine subtype. Enterovirus was found in 58.3% (28/48) of cases, specifically EV71 (n=23), CA16 (n=4), and CA10 (n=1). Two patients infected by EV71 had brainstem encephalitis (one death). Eight patients required hospital admission due to dehydration. Of these, 3 were PCR positive for EV71, 1 for CA16, and the reminder negative. This study demonstrated EV71 as the most prevalent present cause of HFMD in Thailand in 2008-2009. Potentially fatal complications of HFMD should be taken into consideration. Surveillance of epidemiology and monitoring of disease severity should be continued, and as a prevention measure, sanitation and hygiene should be improved.
- Published
- 2010