ObjectiveTo evaluate the epidemiological characteristics, clinical features and prognosis of handfootmouth disease(HFMD) in children. MethodsClinical data of 120 HFMD children  who were admitted  in hospital  from May  to September, 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsThe majority of sick children were under the age of five, boys were more than girls; the incidence focused on May to July, most children had a history of  close contact with HFMD; the incidence of fever was 60.83%, all children  showed skin rash which distributed on hand, foot, mouth, buttock, trunk and perianal, rash subsided time were (4.59 ± 1.36) days. Patients were susceptible to complications,such as respiratory tract infection and gastroenteritis; 4 cases(3.33%) were severe HFMD, after antiviral and expectant treatment, only 1 case complicated with severe viral encephalitis and was transferred to the other hospital, the others were cured, length of hospital stay were (6.36 ±2.53) days. Pathogenic detection of 48 cases showed the positive rate of enterovirus 71 was 12.50%, the coxsackievirus type A16  was 66.67%, 20.83% of 48 patients were not detected pathogen. ConclusionHFMD has  strong infectious and epidemic, the majority occur in children under the age of five. Early diagnosis and treatment for patients and  isolation and disinfection measures can control the transmission of HFMD. The main treatment is antivirus, the prognosis of patients are generally good if no serious complications occur.