A survey of 4.112 primary school children living in and around Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, revealed that 12.9% of the children were infested with Pediculus humanus capitis. Indians (28.3%) and Malays (18.9%) have a higher prevalence than Chinese (4.6%). The higher prevalence among Indians and Malays correlates well with their lower socio-economic status in the community; long hair also contributes to the higher rates of pediculosis among them. The prevalence rate was found to be related to socio-economic status, length of hair, family size, age, crowding and personal hygiene. Treatment with 0.2% and 0.5% malathion in coconut oil gave cure rates of 93% and 100%. Treatment with gammexane and actellic at 0.5% concentration gave a cure rate of 100% against adults and nymphs of Pediculus humanus capitis.
The prevalence of human rotavirus enteritis in children admitted to the gastroenteritis ward of the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital was studied in 1982. Human rotavirus in the stool of the patients was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The survey showed that rotavirus enteritis in children were observed throughout the year, with two broad peaks of rotavirus infection occurring around March and September. The lowest incidence was recorded in July, however, no prolonged period of low prevalence of rotavirus enteritis was observed. The average prevalence for the whole of 1982 was 40% of the total diarrhoeal cases. No significant relationship was noted between the prevalence of the disease and rainfall.
Clinical synopsis and investigations on fourteen patients with blast injuries of the ear successfully treated at the ENT Unit of the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, revealed few interesting observations in addition to usual findings. The most outstanding one was the absence of sensorineural deafness, although it has been claimed as one of the most constant features. Conservative management alone was found to be of significant value.
The study reported served 2 purposes: 1) to assess the amount of sexual information posessed by a sample of staff nurses working for the National Family Planning Board and the Public Health Dept., and 2) to gather local normative data on the Information Subtest of the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI). The subjects for the this study were 2 groups of staff nurses. 10 were employees of the National Family Planning Board currently working in 1 of its clinics and 25 were public health nurses who were at a 1 week training at the clinic. The research was a questionnaire type study. Each subject was given the DSFI. On the Information Subtest of the DSFI the subjects obtained a mean score of 12.7 with a standard deviation of 4.2. This score is much lower than the normative mean (American population) and the sexually dysfunctional women mean. The nurses had inadequate and inaccurate knowledge about anatomy, physiology and psychology of sexual relations. Error analysis revealed that as a group they had poor understanding about male sexuality, the effect of aging on sexuality fertility and menopause, and difficulty in accepting oral-genital sex and sexual fantasies. This study recommends that these nurses, in order to more effective in their work, should be trained in the area of human sexuality. This training must include not only the physiology of sex but also the human aspects of sexual union.
MeSH terms: Ambulatory Care Facilities; Asia; Asia, Southeastern; Attitude*; Behavior; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data Collection*; Delivery of Health Care; Developing Countries; Ethnic Groups; Health; Health Personnel*; Humans; Malaysia; Nurses*; Psychology; Reproduction*; Research; Sampling Studies; Sexual Behavior*; Knowledge*
MeSH terms: Age Factors; Ambulatory Care Facilities*; Asia; Asia, Southeastern; Contraception*; Contraception Behavior; Contraceptives, Oral; Delivery of Health Care; Developing Countries; Ethnic Groups; Evaluation Studies as Topic*; Family Planning Services; Health; Health Facilities; Health Planning*; Intrauterine Devices*; Intrauterine Devices, Copper; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Malaysia; Patient Acceptance of Health Care*; Retention (Psychology); Time Factors
It is now nearly 20 years since a strong correlation was noted in Thailand between secondary immune responses and severe dengue syndromes. It is currently thought that 'enhancing' antibodies, in an individual undergoing a second infection with a different serotype of dengue virus, promotes viral replication in monocytes which then become the targets of an immune elimination response (possibly T-cell mediated). The monocytes then release various chemical mediators which produce the symptoms of shock and haemorrhage seen in dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). Much new knowledge has been gained in recent years especially from immunoepidemiological and immunological studies, and these were discussed at a recent meeting.