Abstract: ObjectiveTo study the geno type of enterovirus and the epidemilogical characte ristics of hand,foot and mouth disease(HFMD)among children in Wuxi during the HFMD epidemic period in 2009.MethodsThe data of HFMD surveillance in Wuxi city was analyzed and 426 child HFMD cases(50 seve recases)were randomly selected for a epidemio logic investigation and geno type of enterro virus isolated fromanus and throat swabs samples of the patients was detected.ResultsTotally 8416 HFMD cases were reported in Wuxi city in 2009,with the incidence of 122.33/100 000.The cases mainly occurred during April to June and November to December.Off all HFMD cases,96.49% were less than 6 years old, 61.76% were 1-3 years old,and 60.00% of severe patients were under 2 years old.Oral mucosal poxor ulcer was observed in 81.90% of the cases and hand and foot rashes were observed in 98.50% of 398 ordinal patients,and feveroccurred in 30.6% of ordinal patients and in all severe patients.The median of body temperature for severe patients was 38.95℃,and the median of fever duration was 3.75 days.For the severe patients 80.00% had nervous symptoms.Of the positive cultures,the types of viruses isolated were EV 71(enterovirus 71)in 118 cases(62.11%),CoxsackievirusA 16 in 72 cases(37.89%).Of the positive cultures in severe patients,EV 71 was detected in 22 cases(88.00%).The geno types of aggregative HFMD cases were EV 71(42.19%),Cox A 16(51.56%),and EV 71/Cox A 16(6.25%).ConclusionThere were two prevalent peaks for HFMD in 2009 in Wuxi city and EV 71 and CA 16 were the primary pathogens.The patients infected with different types of enteroviruses had similar clinical characteristics,and the severe patients were likely caused by EV 71.