Encyclopedia of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (EV71 Infection) in Children

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a contagious disease caused by enteroviruses, and it often occurs among infants and children. It can cause vesicles on hands, feet and oral cavity, and some individual patients may suffer from complications such as myocarditis, pulmonary edema, and aseptic meningitis etc.. More than 20 types (strains) of enteroviruses can trigger hand-foot-and-mouth disease. The common pathogens for hand-foot-and-mouth disease include type 16, 4, 5, 9, and 10 in group A of Coxsackievirus, type 2 and 5 in group B of Coxsackievirus, and Enterovirus 71. In particular, type 16 in group A of Coxsackievirus (Cox A16) and Enterovirus 71 (EV 71) are the most common ones.