Hand, foot and mouth disease--outbreak in Romania?

Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2013 Jan-Mar;117(1):194-8.

Abstract

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral illness usually occurring during the summer months in children younger than 5 years of age. In the North-East area of Romania the incidence is usually low, each dermatologist reporting 1-2 cases or even less per year. The diagnosis is usually based on the characteristic clinical aspect: vesicles and papules on the hands and feet and superficial oral ulcers. HFMD is typically a benign and self-limiting disease that resolves in approximately 7 days; in Asia there have been few reported severe cases that developed neurological complications and even death, while in certain areas of China this disease is a more and more serious public health problem. In the summer of 2012 in North-East Romania numerous cases of disease have been reported, some with atypical clinical manifestations and most of them with mild or moderate forms of disease. The present article is a discussion on one of these cases. The diagnosis was made based on lesions location and clinical appearance. An outbreak of HFMD should be confirmed by virology tests.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Foot / pathology
  • Hand / pathology
  • Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease / diagnosis*
  • Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease / epidemiology
  • Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease / virology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nails / pathology
  • Oral Ulcer / pathology
  • Risk Factors
  • Romania / epidemiology
  • Seasons