Reemerging of enterovirus 71 in Taiwan: The age impact on disease severity

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

6-1-2012

Abstract

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection commonly strike children under the age of 3 years, with an occasionally unfavorable outcome in children. This study was designed to explore the relationship between age and the severity of complications, which may associate with antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) in EV71. All EV71-infected patients during the outbreak of 2008 were recruited. In total, 134 patients were enrolled and categorized into two age groups, 0-12 months (n=18) and ≥12 months (n=116). Pulmonary edema/hemorrhage more commonly occur in patients younger than 12 months. No difference in the occurrence of herpangina/hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD), uncomplicated brainstem encephalitis (BE), or autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation was noted between the two age groups. Patients with pulmonary edema/hemorrhage (11.9±14.7 months) were younger than patients with herpangina/HFMD (35.8±26.4 months) or ANS dysregulation (33.9± 20.9 months). Our findings are in agreement with the data regarding the outbreak in Taiwan, in which a decrease in age corresponded to an increase in disease severity with regard to central nervous system complications. A reduction of maternal antibodies to the subneutralizing level within 1 year of age may be associated with the ADE of the infection. This study could provide possible clinical significance with regard to ADE phenomena in young infants infected by EV71. © Springer-Verlag 2011.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Volume

31

Issue

6

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