Clinical nutrition support treatment on children with hand foot and mouth disease

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of nutritional support treatment on blood trace elements, immunoglobulin content and clinical situation of children with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). Methods Total of 100 hospitalized children with confirmed HFMD (including primary infection and repeated infection) in the Third Hospital of Qinhuangdao from May 2015 to October 2016 were divided into treatment group and control group, randomly, with 50 cases in each group. The nutritional support treatment group according to the age and course of disease were given individualized, while the control group were only given routine treatment. The changes of the blood trace elements and immunoglobulin contents were compared. Results The levels of serum Zn (4.83 ± 1.57 μg/ml) and Ca (66.73 ± 10.48 μg/ml) of cases in treatment group after treatment were higher than those in control group, with significant differences (t = 3.760, P = 0.031; t = 2.790, P = 0.030). The levels of serum IgA (1.99 ± 0.31 mg/dl) and IgG (13.74 ± 2.86 mg/dl) of cases in treatment group after treatment were higher than those in control group, with significant differences (t = 2.590, P = 0.001; t = 2.650, P = 0.025). The imbalance of trace elements in blood and immunoglobulin levels of cases in treatment group after treatment were significantly improved compared with those of the control group. The fever and hospitalization period of cases in treatment group were significantly shorter than those of the control group (t = 15.512, P = 0.036; t = 10.202, P = 0.001). Conclusions Timely and effective nutritional support could improve the immunity and clinical outcome of children. Key words: Hand, foot and mouth disease; Nutritional intervention; Immunity