Human Enterovirus (EV) may seem strange to you, but if you talk about hand, foot and mouth diseases(HFMD), you will be familiar with them. That's right, they are caused by EV.
HFMD can cause widespread epidemics in a short period, and during epidemics, clusters of cases or outbreaks can occur in kindergartens, childcare institutions, and homes. Therefore, HFMD is a public health problem of great concern worldwide, and prevention and control situation is critical.
PART 01
What is Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease?
Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease in children caused by enterovirus (EV) infections and is most prevalent in children under 5 years of age. There are more than 30 viruses causing HFMD, mainly coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) and enterovirus 71 (EV-A71).
The symptoms of HFMD are usually mild, with herpes or ulcers forming on the mucous membranes of the hands, feet and mouth as the main clinical symptom, which heals spontaneously within a week or so. However, a small number of children develop more serious complications such as aseptic meningitis and brainstem encephalitis, and even death in severe cases. However, there is no specific anti-enterovirus drugs available, and symptomatic treatment is the mainstay.
Most severe HFMD is caused by enterovirus 71 (EV-A71). Because there is no cross-immunity between enterovirus types, just because your baby has HFMD now does not mean that he or she will not get it again in the future.
PART 02
What is the mode of transmission of hand, foot and mouth disease?
Children and latently infected persons (adults are also included) are the main source of infection, with a high rate of latent HFMD infection.
Close contact is an important mode of transmission of HFMD, for example：
Infection is caused by contact with hands, towels, handkerchiefs, tooth cups, toys, eating utensils, milk utensils, as well as bedding and underwear that have been contaminated with the virus.
It can also be transmitted by respiratory droplets.
You can also get infected by drinking or eating water and food contaminated with the virus.
The population is universally susceptible, with a ratio of 100:1 between latent and overt infections, and immunity can be acquired after infection. Patients are mainly children, with the highest incidence in the ≤3 years age group and 85% to 95% in the 4 years age group; children, adolescents, and adults do not develop the disease after infection but are able to transmit the virus and acquire antibodies mostly through recessive infection.
PART 03
What are the symptoms of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease?
Hand, foot and mouth disease may have five stages
First stage: rash
The main symptoms are fever, rash on the hands, feet, mouth and buttocks, which may be accompanied by cough, runny nose and loss of appetite. The typical rash is not painful or itchy and does not crust or scar when it recovers.
However, some types of enterovirus, such as CV-A6 and CV-A10, cause severe lesions and the rash may appear as large blisters with pain and itching and is not limited to the hands, feet and mouth.
Only a small percentage of children experience stages 2 to 4, so parents just need to keep a close eye on their baby's symptoms.
It is important to get your baby to the doctor as soon as the symptoms of stages 2 to 4 appear to avoid delaying the disease.
Stage 2: Neurological involvement
This is the heavy stage and most cases are cured.
It may occur in a few cases, mostly within 1 to 5 days of illness, and is characterized by poor mental health, drowsiness, weakness in sucking, easy startling, headache, vomiting, irritability, limb tremors, muscle weakness, and neck stiffness.
Stage 3: Pre-cardiopulmonary failure
This stage is the critical type. It requires prompt hospital treatment!
It mostly occurs within 5 days of illness and manifests as increased heart rate and respiration, cold sweats, chills at the end of the extremities, skin flushing and increased blood pressure.
Stage 4: Cardiorespiratory failure
This stage has a high mortality rate and requires accurate recognition in stages 2 and 3, and timely consultation is key to stopping the onset of stage 4.
This stage can be rapidly followed by stage 3. Clinical manifestations include tachycardia or bradycardia, shortness of breath, purple lips, coughing up pink frothy sputum or bloody fluid, and reduced blood pressure or shock. There are also cases of convulsions and severe disturbances of consciousness.
Stage 5: Recovery period
Mild cases usually heal within 1 week without sequelae.
In a few children, the neurological system is rapidly involved after the onset of the disease. Some cases of HFMD (mostly in those infected with CV-A6 and CV-A10) show signs of nail loss 2 to 4 weeks after the disease, with new nails growing out in 1 to 2 months.
PART 04
Early identification is vital
Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common acute infectious disease among preschool children that is prevalent worldwide. It is characterized by high infectiousness, a large proportion of occult infections, complex transmission routes, rapid transmission, high infection rates, and difficulty in prevention and control. Therefore, early, rapid and accurate detection of the pathogen is essential for the prevention, control and treatment of HFMD, as it facilitates early intervention of the disease and timely control of the source of infection to protect the susceptible population.
Hecin focuses on the diagnosis of respiratory system pathogens, and the EV Nucleic Acid Test Kit (PCR- fluorescence probe method) developed by Hecin has already obtained the EU CE certification. The Kit has the characteristics of high sensitivity and simple operation, is suitable for the rapid diagnosis of diseases caused by EV infection, and is compatible with the fluorescent PCR platform.
This kit has been validated in laboratory and clinical studies for EV, and it can specifically detect the nucleic acid of EV, including Coxsackie virus type 2/4/5/6/7/9/10/12/16 of group A and type 1/2/3/4/5 of group B, etc., Human Enterovirus 71 and Human Echovirus at least.
Hecin will give full play to its advantages in technology and products, strive to improve the "accuracy" and "accessibility" of respiratory pathogen detection and help build a precise diagnosis and treatment system.
