title: High risk factors for severe hand, foot and mouth disease: a multicenter retrospective survey in Anhui Province China, 2008-2009.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to determine the high risk factors for severe hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective 229 severe HFMD cases from four hospitals in FuYang, HeFei, and BoZhou (Anhui Provincial Hospital, Fuyang City People's Hospital, No. 2 People's Hospital of Fuyang and Bozhou city People's Hospital) in 2008-2009 were studied, with 140 mild HFMD cases in the same area. Using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, the high risk factors of HFMD were identified by comparing clinical and laboratory findings between severe cases and mild cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in age, total duration of fever, rate of respiratory and heart, shake of limbs, white blood cell count, blood sugar, and CK-MB between the two groups. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that severe cases were associated with age (<3 years), withdrawnness and lethargy, shake of limbs, tachycardia, total leukocyte count (≥17×10⁹/l), blood sugar (≥7 mmol/l), and CK-MB (≥16 mmol/l). Furthermore, age (<3 years), withdrawnness, and lethargy, shake of limbs, WBC (≥17×10⁹/l), and CK-MB (≥16 mmol/l) were found to be high risk factors for severe cases after multivariate logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians should give importance to these risk factors. Early recognition of children at risk and timely intervention is the key to reduce acute mortality and morbidity.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Anhui Provincial Hospital affiliated to Anhui Medical University, 17 Lu Jiang Road, Hefei, People's Republic of China. panjiahua10@yahoo.cn
authors: Jiahua
authors: J
authors: Pan
authors: Mingwu
authors: M
authors: Chen
authors: Xuzhong
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: Yulong
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Shen