A sudden paediatric death due to hand, foot and mouth disease: the importance of vigilance

BACKGROUND: Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is caused by enteroviruses such as Coxsackie virus A16 (CVA16) and Enterovirus 71 (EV71). The diagnostic hallmarks are oral ulcers and maculo-papular or vesicular rash on the hands and feet. Severe form of this disease can lead to death due to neurological and cardiopulmonary complications. This case report aims to describe a fatal case of HFMD with minimal oral and skin manifestations.
CASE REPORT: A four-year-old girl was brought to a hospital after suddenly becoming unresponsive at home. She had a history of fever and lethargy for three days prior to her demise. The patient, and f ive other children in her neighbourhood had been diagnosed to have HFMD at a local health clinic; the other children had recovered without complications.
RESULTS: Autopsy revealed a few punctate, sub-epidermal vesicles measuring 1 to 2 mm on the palm of her right hand and sole of the right foot, visible only with a magnifying glass. Internal examination revealed prominent nodularity at the oro- and hypopharynxes. The lungs were markedly congested and oedematous. Histopathology of the lung showed marked oedema and haemorrhage with mild pneumonic changes. Oedema with increase in macroglia and astrocytic proliferation were seen in the cerebral tissue, but no lymphocytic infiltration was evident. Enterovirus EV71 was detected by polymerase chain reaction in samples from the lung, cerebrospinal fluid and serum. The cause of death was given as HFMD complicated by pneumonia.
CONCLUSION: Fatal HFMD may have minimal signs. A complete history, careful physical examination and relevant investigations lead to a diagnosis at post mortem examination. Awareness of the subtle signs and rapid deterioration associated with a fatal case of HFMD is a challenge to clinicians who encounter these cases.