Enterovirus 71 Infection 肠病毒71型感染

Causative agent
病原体

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a single-stranded RNA virus and is one of the causative agents for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). The disease occurs commonly in Southeast Asian areas, especially in summer and early autumn. Outbreaks have been reported in Australia, Mainland China, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan etc.

肠病毒71型（EV71）是一种单链的核糖核酸病毒，也是引致手足口病的病原体之一。此病常见于东南亚地区，多数于夏天及初秋时分发生。澳洲、中国内地、马来西亚、新加坡、台湾等都曾出现爆发。

Clinical features
病征

EV71 infection is usually found among young children. 

EV71型感染在幼童较为常见。

其病征一般与手足口病相同，主要包括发烧、口腔有疼痛的溃疡，以及带水疱的皮疹。

病发时通常首先出现发烧、食欲不振、疲倦或喉咙痛等病征。

发烧后一至两天，口腔会出现疼痛的水疱，这些水疱初时呈细小的红点，然后会形成溃疡。溃疡通常位于舌头、牙肉以及口腔的两腮内侧。

另外，手掌及脚掌，甚至臀部及／或生殖器亦会出现不痕痒及有时会带有小水疱的红疹。

A person with HFMD may not have symptoms, or may have only the rash or only mouth ulcers.

EV71 may cause more serious diseases, such as viral (aseptic) meningitis, encephalitis, poliomyelitis-like paralysis and myocarditis.

手足口病患者亦可能没有病征，或者只出现皮疹或口腔溃疡等病征。

EV71型可引致较严重的情况，包括病毒性脑膜炎、脑炎、类似小儿麻痹症的病症及心肌炎。

Management
治理方法

Currently, no specific treatment is available for EV71 infection. Some symptomatic treatments can relieve fever and pain from the ulcers. In most cases, the illness is self-limiting. Symptoms including fever, rash and ulcers subside in 1 week. 

现时并没有药物治疗EV71型感染的方法。一些纾缓征状的药物能减轻患者的热度及溃疡引致的痛楚。大部分病者都会自行痊愈，其病征如发烧、皮疹及溃疡于1个星期后便会消退。

Parents should pay attention to the health of their children and seek medical advice immediately if their children having HFMD developing the following symptoms:

• persistent and high fever

• repeated vomiting

• persistent sleepiness or drowsiness

• myoclonic jerks or sudden limb weakness

家长亦应留意患手足口病儿童的身体状况，如出现以下情况，应立即求医：

• 持续高烧

• 反复呕吐

• 持续昏睡

• 肌肉抽搐或肢体忽然无力

Infected children are advised to refrain from schools or group activities such as parties, interest classes, swimming until 2 weeks after fever has subsided and all the vesicular lesions have dried and crusted to prevent the spread of disease. Protect other family members, especially children, from getting the infection through strict personal and environmental hygiene.

受感染的儿童应避免上学或参加集体活动（如派对、兴趣班、游泳等），直至退烧以及身体上的水疱干涸及结痂后两星期，以免疾病传播。为保障家人（特别是儿童）免受感染，必须保持良好的个人及环境卫生。

（来源：香港卫生防护中心）

统筹：lily

美编：雷未明