Abstract

HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE - A REVIEW

P. Sailaja, Y. Prapurnachandra, M. Manaswini*, N. Sai Varshitha, M. Uma, S. Tasleem and L. Vinod

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Abstract

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a contagious viral disease and mainly affects infants and young children. The main manifestations are fever, vesicular rashes on the hand, feet, and buttocks, and ulcers in the oral mucosa. Usually, HFMD is selflimiting, but a small proportion of children may experience severe complications such as meningitis, encephalitis, acute flaccid paralysis, and neurorespiratory syndrome. Historically, outbreaks of HFMD were mainly caused by two enteroviruses: the coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) and the enterovirus 71 (EVA71). In recent years, coxsackievirus A6 and coxsackievirus A10 have been widely associated with both sporadic cases and outbreaks of HFMD worldwide, particularly in India, South East Asia, and Europe with an increased frequency of neurological complications as well as mortality. Currently, there is no pharmacological intervention or vaccine available for HFMD. A formalin-inactivated EV-A71 vaccine has completed clinical trials in several Asian countries. However, this vaccine cannot protect major emerging etiologies of HFMD such as CV-A16, CV-A6, and CV-A10. Therefore, the development of a globally representative multivalent HFMD vaccine could be the best strategy. For a long time, hand, foot and mouth disease was seen as a mild viral infection.

Keywords: Picoranaviridae family, Enterovirus genus, Real time PCR, NSAIDS (Non steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs), Pleconaril.