Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 263 in total

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  1. Kirchgatterer A, Allinger S, Balon R, Tuppy H, Knoflach P
    Z Gastroenterol, 1998 Oct;36(10):897-900.
    PMID: 9846368
    A 43-year-old woman developed abdominal pain and diarrhea following a travel to Malaysia. Examinations in another hospital proved no evidence of infection, an empirical antibiotic therapy with ciprofloxacin yielded no benefit. One and a half year later, the patient was admitted to our department because of persistent diarrhea and wasting. Laboratory tests showed megaloblastic anemia, folate deficiency and steatorrhea. Stool specimens for bacterial pathogens and parasites were negative. Endoscopy and biopsy from the distal portion of the duodenum revealed broadening and shortening of the villi and an increased infiltration of the lamina propria by chronic inflammatory cells (plasma cells and lymphocytes). In conclusion, diagnosis of tropical sprue was established. The therapy comprised of tetracycline for six weeks and folic acid for six months. Subsequently, the diarrhea disappeared, the patient continuously gained weight and was free of any complaints. The complete remission following this regimen proved the suspected diagnosis. Differential diagnosis in any patient who recently returned from the tropics may be a challenge. Tropical sprue predominantly occurs during or after a longer stay in endemic areas. However, if chronic diarrhea and signs of malabsorption develop after a short journey to India, South-East Asia and parts of the Caribbean, tropical sprue has to be considered, too.
    Matched MeSH terms: Travel*
  2. Tang KHD
    Z Gesundh Wiss, 2020 Jun 13.
    PMID: 32837842 DOI: 10.1007/s10389-020-01316-w
    Aim: The first Covid-19 cases were reported in Malaysia on 25 January 2019 followed by a quiescent period before an upward swing of the cases at the end of February 2020, partly attributed to mass gathering during a religious event. This short communication aims to provide an overview of the measures taken by the Malaysian Government in response to Covid-19, and of the effectiveness of the Movement Control Order.

    Subjects and methods: This short communication reviews articles and government announcements related to containment measures and the Movement Control Order of Malaysia, and graphically presents data pertinent to Covid-19 in Malaysia in order to show the relationship between fluctuations in Covid-19 cases and movement control.

    Results: At the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak, Malaysia had initiated travel restrictions and quarantine; but with a persistent increase in new Covid-19 cases, the Movement Control Order was finally rolled out on 18 March 2020, requiring closure of all businesses except those providing essential services and items. Enforcement of the order was tightened progressively, resulting in significant improvement of compliance, while other interventions such as tracking of potential contacts and medical screening were underway, and the media continued to provide updates and general advices. The numbers of new and active Covid-19 cases started showing evident downtrends from mid-April, thus indicating the effectiveness of movement control and its compliance.

    Conclusion: The article provides insight into crucial factors contributing to the success of movement control to effectively contain Covid-19, and highlights the need to prevent future upsurge through continuous monitoring and enforcement.

    Matched MeSH terms: Travel
  3. Krishnan R
    World Health Forum, 1992;13(2-3):163-4.
    PMID: 1418328
    Matched MeSH terms: Travel*
  4. Mortimer RB
    Wilderness Environ Med, 2005;16(3):129-31.
    PMID: 16209467
    This article describes a case of leptospirosis in a man who returned from caving in Sarawak, Malaysia, and includes a discussion of epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. The patient presented with symptoms of leptospirosis, which was confirmed by microhemagglutination titers. He became infected despite taking doxycycline daily for malaria prophylaxis. Leptospirosis is an important consideration in any returned traveler with fever. The spirochete spreads from animals to humans via water. Caving in tropical endemic zones may increase exposure risk due to the combination of multiple skin abrasions with immersions. Water in caves may increase infection risk because of increased water pH. Standard prophylaxis may be inadequate in cases of high-risk exposures.
    Matched MeSH terms: Travel*
  5. Flaherty GT, Smith M
    Wilderness Environ Med, 2019 06;30(2):218-220.
    PMID: 31005609 DOI: 10.1016/j.wem.2019.02.001
    Matched MeSH terms: Travel/psychology
  6. Alfelali M, Barasheed O, Tashani M, Azeem MI, El Bashir H, Memish ZA, et al.
    Vaccine, 2015 May 21;33(22):2562-9.
    PMID: 25887084 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.04.006
    Influenza is an important health hazard among Hajj pilgrims. For the last ten years, pilgrims are being recommended to take influenza vaccine before attending Hajj. Vaccination coverage has increased in recent years, but whether there has been any change in the prevalence of influenza-like illness (ILI) is not known. In this analysis, we examined the changes in the rate of ILI against seasonal influenza vaccine uptake among Hajj pilgrims over the last decade.
    Matched MeSH terms: Travel
  7. Pedalino M, Vercesi E, Manini C, Piras D, Di Primio OG, Vella R, et al.
    Urologia, 2010 Oct-Dec;77 Suppl 17:38-41.
    PMID: 21308673
    Authors present a case of bilharziosis incidentally diagnosed in a patient undergoing TURB for suspected bladder cancer. The patient, who in 2005 had gone to Malaysia, had been suffering from recurrent hemorrhagic cystitis since 2007, which were treated with antibiotic therapy. In November 2009 he presented to our observation for persistent hematuria, underwent ultrasound examination, fibroscopy and TURB diagnostics for suspicious lesions. The histopathology diagnosis found granulomatous lesions with typical parasites eggs due to schistosomiasis eggs. As a consequence of that, the patient underwent medical therapy. The pathologist's role becomes nullifying not only for the diagnosis of parasitic infections but also for the exclusion or evidence of urothelial squamous neoplasia. The low incidence of this rare parasitic disease in European tourists and the presence of immigrants in our country require to spread the knowledge of these parasites and the most simple tests for early detection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Travel
  8. Al-Zergani F, Ronit A, Theilgaard ZP, Ronayne A, Nielsen HV, Porskrog A
    Ugeskr Laeger, 2023 Oct 02;185(40).
    PMID: 37873999
    Scrub typhus is caused by the mite-borne bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi. Imported cases have been suspected in Denmark but no diagnostic method has yet been available to confirm the diagnosis. This is a case report of a 38-year-old male admitted to hospital with high fever, severe malaise and headache after returning from Malaysia. Scrub typhus was suspected and the patient recovered after one week of doxycycline treatment. The pathogen was identified by use of microbiome 16S/18S rRNA next-generation sequencing on ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) blood, which in the future may serve an important role in the investigation of travel-associated infections.
    Matched MeSH terms: Travel
  9. Hagelskjaer LH, Hansen NJ, Christensen T
    Ugeskr Laeger, 1991 Sep 23;153(39):2754-5.
    PMID: 1949294
    A Danish woman aged 28 years who had travelled in the Far East developed cerebral symptoms with headache and visual disturbances. Migraine was suspected. Subsequent CT scanning revealed multiple processes and metastases were suspected. As the patient had travelled in the Far East 1 1/2 years previously, she was examined for neurocysticercosis. This diagnosis was established and the patient was successfully treated with praziquantel. On account of increased travelling activity, the possibility of neurocysticercosis should be borne in mind when dealing with patients with cerebral symptoms and relevant travelling histories.
    Matched MeSH terms: Travel
  10. AINATUN NABIHAH MOHD SHUKRI, AZIZUL YADI YAAKOP, KALSITINOOR SET
    MyJurnal
    Millions of Muslims from all over the world perform Umrah and Hajj every year. There were 250,000 pilgrims from Malaysia in 2017, and the number is expected to grow by 20 percent in 2018. This projected increase will create a huge demand for Umrah and Hajj travel agencies’ services in Malaysia. At present, there are 328 Umrah and Hajj travel agencies registered under Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MOTAC). However, the supposedly bright outlook maybe marred by undesirable consequences. Along with the increase in the number of Umrah and Hajj travel agencies, there also tends to be an increase in fraud Umrah packages offered by fake agents in Malaysia. Such incidents will cause sadness and anger in the victims and other involved parties. Umrah package fraud involving fake agents in Malaysia has attracted the attention of many including the public, the government, the private sector, even the media. Nevertheless, studies on correlation between Muslim travellers’ perception of the quality of service by Umrah travel agencies and their decision to purchase the Umrah package are scarce in Malaysia. Hence, this study investigated Muslim travellers’ perception of Umrah and Hajj travel agencies’ service quality and its influence on their decision to purchase the Umrah package, in an attempt to discover why some Muslim travellers fell into fake agents’ trap in Malaysia. A total of 319 Muslim respondents completed the questionnaire on service quality perception, specifically service quality elements and loyalty. The data obtained was examined using SPSS version 25 for descriptive and regression analysis. Umrah and Hajj travel agencies as well as relevant government agencies could use the findings of the study to assist with formulating plans and policies to improve the quality of service by Umrah and Hajj industry players and awareness among Muslim travellers on the importance of being able to identify bogus agencies. The limitations, implications andsuggestions for future research are also discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Travel
  11. ZALIHA ZAINUDDIN, ZALEHA MOHAMED, HAROLD LOLING
    MyJurnal
    Tourism is associated with leisure and travelling, and is considered one of the fastest growing sectors that contribute significantly to the country’s economy, as well as bringing benefits directly to local communities. The Rural Tourism Master Plan was established in 2001, which defines rural tourism as an attraction that offers visitors the opportunity to experience Malaysia’s traditional culture and heritage away from urban areas. This study focuses on such tourism in the Gunung Mulu National Park, a famous natural park comprising underground caves, virgin rainforests and highlands. This research uses a quantitative approach with a random sampling technique because the procedure to select a unit for inclusion in a sample is much easier, quicker and cheaper. A questionnaire is distributed via Google Form to 500 local tourists who visited the park. The results of this research may be useful in marketing the Gunung Mulu National Park worldwide, besides fine-tuning programmes to attract tourists to the national park.
    Matched MeSH terms: Travel
  12. NURFARAHIN IDRUS, NORIZAN MOHAMED
    MyJurnal
    Airline industry is one of the largest industries in the world of transport because it is the most important transport in the global transport system. The airline industry has played a very important role in the economic development in Malaysia. Due to the increase in its operating business, the demand for air travel increases day by day. Hence, this study focused on the number of passengers using air transport in Malaysia. The monthly data from January 2005 to December 2015 were obtained from Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) in Sepang, Selangor. The data is divided into 2 parts, which are in sample data from January 2005 to December 2014 and out sample data from January 2015 to December 2015. The study was conducted to predict airline passengers in Malaysia using the Box-Jenkins model and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model. Both models were studied to choose the best model. Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and Mean Squared Error (MSE) were used to measure the performance of both models. SARIMA was selected as the best model for Box-Jenkins with MAPE and MSE were 7.3458388 and 2.67011 respectively while Multilayer Feed Forward Neural Network (MFFNN) with seven input variables, with MAPE and MSE, 7.251 and 0.0006 respectively were selected as the best model for Multilayer Feed Forward Neural Network (FFNN). In conclusion, these studies have proven that the Multilayer Feed Forward Neural Network (FFNN) model is the best model for considering airplanes in Malaysia compared to the SARIMA model.
    Matched MeSH terms: Air Travel
  13. Darrat M, Flaherty GT
    PMID: 31548898 DOI: 10.1186/s40794-019-0094-8
    Background: Older people represent a significant proportion of overseas travellers. The epidemiology of older international travellers is not well described in the literature. This study aims to identify demographics, travel characteristics and the medical profile of older travellers seeking pre-travel health advice in a specialist travel medicine clinic.

    Methods: Records of travellers aged 60 years and older attending the Tropical Medical Bureau clinic in Galway, Ireland between 2014 and 2018 were examined. Descriptive and inferential.analysis of data was performed.

    Results: A total of 337 older travellers sought pre-travel health advice during the study period. The mean age of the cohort was 65.42 (±10) years. Most of the travellers (n = 267, 80%) had at least one travelling companion. Nearly half of older travellers (n = 155, 46.8%) were travelling with a single companion. Tourism was the main reason for travel for the majority (n = 260, 77.6%), followed by visiting friends and relatives (VFR) (n = 23, 6.9%) travellers. The mean interval remaining before the planned trip was 4.36 (±2) weeks, and the mean duration of travel was 3.16 (±1) weeks. The most popular single country of destination was India with 33 (9.8%) visitors, and South East Asia was the most popular region with 132 (39.2%) older travellers. The majority of travellers (n = 267, 79.2%) had a documented pre-existing medical condition. The most commonly reported medical conditions were hypertension (n = 26, 7.7%), dyslipidaemia (n = 18, 5.3%), diabetes mellitus (n = 12, 3.5%), insect bite sensitivity (n = 11, 3.3%), and hypothyroidism (n = 9, 2.6%). Antihypertensive agents (n = 32, 9.4%) and statins (n = 24, 7.1%) were the most frequently used medications. Typhoid (n = 112, 33.2%) and hepatitis A (n = 84, 24.9%) were the most common vaccinations administered to older travellers at the clinic.

    Conclusions: This study provides an insight into the demographics, travel characteristics, and medical profile of elderly travellers seeking advice at a large travel clinic in Ireland. A wide range of travel destinations, diseases and medication use was reported among this group of travellers, which may enable travel medicine physicians to provide more tailored advice and to more appropriately counsel older travellers.

    Matched MeSH terms: Travel; Travel Medicine
  14. Deris ZZ, Hasan H, Ab Wahab MS, Sulaiman SA, Naing NN, Othman NH
    Trop Biomed, 2010 Aug;27(2):294-300.
    PMID: 20962728 MyJurnal
    In a very closed and overcrowding environment, influenza transmission during Hajj season is almost inevitable. The aim of this study was to determine the association between pre-morbid conditions and influenza-like illness (ILI) amongst Hajj pilgrims. A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst Malaysian Hajj pilgrims in year 2007. Survey forms were distributed at Madinatul-Hujjaj, Jeddah and Tabung Haji Clinic, Medina, Saudi Arabia where pilgrims stay on transit before returning to Malaysia. Allergic rhinitis was significantly associated with sore throat (p=0.047), longer duration of cough (p=0.017) and runny nose (p=0.016). Pilgrims who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) had significant association with longer duration of cough (p=0.041) and those with diabetes mellitus had significant association with longer duration of sore throat (p=0.048). Underlying asthma was significantly associated with severe influenza like illness requiring admission to hospital for further treatment of respiratory symptoms (p=0.016). Based on these findings, we suggest those with underlying asthma should be discouraged from participating in the hajj and they should seek early treatment if they develop respiratory symptoms.
    Matched MeSH terms: Travel*
  15. Siti Syaza Nabilah, Binti Fauzihana, Norazirah, Ayob
    MyJurnal
    This study aims to investigate the perception of Muslim travellers toward Halal lifestyle in South Korea. This study is significant due to a huge growth of Muslim tourists in South Korea over recent years. Statistics has shown an influx of Muslim tourists from Malaysia travelling to South Korea from year-to-year. Interviews were conducted to gain in-depth and comprehensive insights of Malaysian Muslims’ percipience on the Halal culture in South Korea. The questions were designed in the interview covers three issues, which include the pre-travel behaviour, extensity of information search, and travel decision. According to the interviews, most of the travellers spent their time conducting research, explicitly on Halal dietary matters before heading to South Korea. They also stated that it was quite hard finding places that serve Halal food. Therefore, we concluded that the Halal principle adoption in Korea influences the travel decision by most Muslim travellers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Travel
  16. Muehlenbein MP, Martinez LA, Lemke AA, Ambu L, Nathan S, Alsisto S, et al.
    Travel Med Infect Dis, 2010 May;8(3):169-75.
    PMID: 20541137 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2010.03.004
    Ecotourism can function as a powerful tool for species conservation. However, a significant proportion of travelers at wildlife sanctuaries may be ill and potentially infectious, creating unnecessary risk of pathogen transmission to wildlife.
    Matched MeSH terms: Travel*
  17. Pai HH, Lai JL
    Travel Med Infect Dis, 2008 Jul;6(4):201-4.
    PMID: 18571109 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2008.03.001
    International travel may be associated with the risk of a wide range of infectious diseases. This study was designed to obtain information on the health problems among international travellers from a subtropical region to the neighbouring tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. Health problems among international travellers from Taiwan to the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand (tropical group), Hong Kong, Macao, China and Japan (non-tropical group) were surveyed through the telephone. Of 649 travellers surveyed, 8.2% had one or more health problems and insect bite (3.4%) and coughing or sore throats (3.2%) were the most important symptoms. The rate of coughing or sore throats was significantly higher among those returned from the non-tropical regions. However, no associations were found between health problems and the demographic factors, travel style or travelling duration of travel.
    Matched MeSH terms: Travel*
  18. Srinivasan V, Spence DW, Pandi-Perumal SR, Trakht I, Cardinali DP
    Travel Med Infect Dis, 2008 Jan-Mar;6(1-2):17-28.
    PMID: 18342269 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2007.12.002
    Each year millions of travelers undertake long distance flights over one or more continents. These multiple time zone flights produce a constellation of symptoms known as jet lag. Familiar to almost every intercontinental traveler is the experience of fatigue upon arrival in a new time zone, but almost as problematic are a number of other jet lag symptoms. These include reduced alertness, nighttime insomnia, loss of appetite, depressed mood, poor psychomotor coordination and reduced cognitive skills, all symptoms which are closely affected by both the length and direction of travel. The most important jet lag symptoms are due to disruptions to the body's sleep/wake cycle. Clinical and pathophysiological studies also indicate that jet lag can exacerbate existing affective disorders. It has been suggested that dysregulation of melatonin secretion and occurrence of circadian rhythm disturbances may be the common links which underlie jet lag and affective disorders. Largely because of its regulatory effects on the circadian system, melatonin has proven to be highly effective for treating the range of symptoms that accompany transmeridian air travel. Additionally, it has been found to be of value in treating mood disorders like seasonal affective disorder. Melatonin acts on MT(1) and MT(2) melatonin receptors located in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei, the site of the body's master circadian clock. Melatonin resets disturbed circadian rhythms and promotes sleep in jet lag and other circadian rhythm sleep disorders, including delayed sleep phase syndrome and shift-work disorder. Although post-flight melatonin administration works efficiently in transmeridian flights across less than 7-8 times zones, in the case longer distances, melatonin should be given by 2-3 days in advance to the flight. To deal with the unwanted side effects which usually accompany this pre-departure treatment (acute soporific and sedative effects in times that may not be wanted), the suppression of circadian rhythmicity by covering symmetrically the phase delay and the phase advance portions of the phase response curve for light, together with the administration of melatonin at local bedtime to resynchronize the circadian oscillator, have been proposed. The current view that sleep loss is a major cause of jet lag has focused interest on two recently developed pharmacological agents. Ramelteon and agomelatine are melatonin receptor agonists which, compared to melatonin itself, have a longer half-life and greater affinity for melatonin receptors and consequently are thought to hold promise for treating a variety of circadian disruptions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Travel*
  19. Tan SY, Kumar G, Surrun SK, Ong YY
    Travel Med Infect Dis, 2007 Jan;5(1):62-3.
    PMID: 17161325
    Dengue fever is endemic in many countries of South East Asia. In spite of the occasional epidemics, dengue maculopathy remains a rare entity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Travel*
  20. Flaherty G, Sabir K
    Travel Med Infect Dis, 2016 Sep-Oct;14(5):531-532.
    PMID: 27524682 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2016.08.001
    Matched MeSH terms: Air Travel*
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