To investigate the changes of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL17, neuron-specific enolase and central nervous specific protein S100β of peripheral blood in children with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

Total of 60 children with HFMD were collected, including 30 children with mild symptoms (mild group) and 30 children with severe symptoms (severe group), while 30 healthy children were selected as control group. The expression of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, NSE and S100β in peripheral blood of children in each group were detected by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

The levels of IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17 in peripheral blood of children in severe group were significantly higher than those of the control group and mild group, all with significant differences (severe group vs. control group: t = 9.83, 8.56, 7.85; P = 0.043, 0.019, 0.011. severe group vs. mild group: t = 5.84, 4.95, 6.59; P = 0.023, 0.032, 0.024). Compared with the control group, the levels of IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17 in peripheral blood of children in mild group were slightly higher, but there were no significant differences (t = 0.53, 1.03, 0.38; P = 0.292, 0.445, 0.362). Compared with the control group and mild group, the levels of NSE and S100β in peripheral blood of children in severe group were significantly higher, with significant differences (severe group vs. control group: t = 11.39, 9.25; P = 0.018, 0.016. severe group vs. mild group: t = 5.44, 6.30; P = 0.031, 0.028). Compared with the control group, the levels of NSE and S100β in peripheral blood of children in mild group were higher, but with no significant differences (t = 1.38, 1.89; P = 0.098, 0.142).

The levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, NSE and S100β in peripheral blood of children with HFMD were increased, which could indicate the severity of the disease, and the changes of the above indexes could be detected in the early stage of severe patients and treated as soon as possible.