Epidemiologic characteristics of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis in Shandong province,2005-2013

Objective To examine epidemic characteristics and influencing factors of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis(AHC)and to provide a basis for the development of early prevention and health promotion strategies.Methods Data on AHC cases reported in Shandong province from 2005 through 2013 were collected and analyzed.Results A total of 4130 AHC cases were reported in Shandong province during the period,with two outbreaks occurred in 2007 and 2010.The epidemic peak occurred in every three years.Most of the cases were reported in Weihai,Qingdao,Liaocheng,and Dezhou municipality.The male to female ratio of the cases was 1.66:1.Most of cases were workers,peasants and students,and the constituent ratio of peasant cases increased yearly(χ²=291.75,P<0.001).Of the cases,81.11%were diagnosed within three days after the onset of the disease.Conclusion The epidemic of AHC in Shandong province showed a slow upward trend and the epidemic peak occurred in every three years.Most of the AHC cases were workers,peasants and students and more AHC outbreaks took place in schools and factories with a dense population.