title: [Analysis on clinical and epidemiological characteristics of severe cases infected by EV71].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of serious cases of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) infected by EV71, in order to provide scientific evidence for prevention and control of HFMD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information was collected by questionaires through consulting medical cases. Data was input by Epidata, and analysed by software SAS 9.13.
  
  
  RESULTS
  201 severe cases were investigated. 84.65% of the cases were below 3 years old. The youngest one was 5 months and the oldest one was 8 years old. The ratio for male and female was 2.2: 1.85. 08% of the cases were distributed sporadically. 51.74% of them lived in rural, 29.36% of them lived in urban and 19.9% of them lived at the fringe area of rural and urban. 81.59% of the cases became serious between 1 and 4 days after infected. 100% cases had fever and 99.95% of them had a rash. 96.52% of them had nerve system symptoms. The main complications were virulent spinal encephalitis, pneumonia and breathing exhaustion. 98.01% of the patients were recovered or cured.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cases aged below 3 years old are high risk persons. Rural area and the fringe area of rural and urban are the key area for disease control. 1-4 days after onset is the key period to prevent complications.
authors: Center for Disease Control and Provention of Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450016, China.
authors: Wei-Ping
authors: WP
authors: Ru
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Kang
authors: Ai-Guo
authors: AG
authors: You
authors: Sheng-Li
authors: SL
authors: Xia