MyMedR

Fulltext Smoking among university students: a comparative study between Malaysian students in Malaysia and Australia

Hashami B, Abdul Halim O, Yusoff K

Med J Malaysia, 1994 Jun;49(2):149-57.

A total of 209 randomly selected Malaysian university students (128 from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 81 from the University of New South Wales) completed a self-filled questionnaire enquiring about their smoking behaviour and psychosocial characteristics. The prevalence of smoking was 26.6 per cent among students in Malaysia and 18.8 per cent among students in Australia (average 23.4%). Both samples have similar patterns in terms of age of starting smoking, time of the day when they smoked, family and peer history of smoking, and whether or not they inhaled deeply during smoking. The smokers tend to be male, studying beyond the first year, staying with peers outside the hostel, having financial sources other than a scholarship, and abnormal mental health score. However, the smokers from the Australian samples were noted to smoke less and made fewer attempts at quitting the habit.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology; Malaysia/epidemiology; Smoking/epidemiology*

Fulltext Prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems in Johor Bahru District school children--comparing three geographical areas

Cheah YC, Kadir AB, Jeyarajah S

Med J Malaysia, 1997 Jun;52(2):124-33.

PMID: 10968069

This is a cross sectional community study in Johor Bahru District. The aim of this study is to estimate the overall prevalence of emotional and behavioural deviance among the school children in three different geographical areas, and to identify their correlates. This paper presents the findings of phase one of a two-stage procedure involving a total of 589 children aged 10-12 years. Using the cut-off point validated locally, the prevalence of deviance on the parental scale was 40% in the rural school, 30.2% in the agricultural resettlement (Felda) school and 32.3% in the urban school. On the teachers' assessment, the prevalence of deviance was 40.8% in the rural school, 10.8% in the Felda School and 8.9% in the urban school. There was significantly higher prevalence of deviance in the rural school on the teachers' scale. In the rural school, significantly higher prevalence of deviance was found among boys.

Matched MeSH terms: Affective Symptoms/epidemiology*; Child Behavior Disorders/epidemiology*; Malaysia/epidemiology

Fulltext Microbial diseases in Malaysia: recent experiences

Arokiasamy JT

Med J Malaysia, 1996 Mar;51(1):4-11.

PMID: 10967972

Microbial diseases continue to occur in Malaysia despite the marked socio-economic development that has been taking place in the country along with improvements in the medical, health, and environmental sectors. This paper highlights the continuing presence of the numerous microbial diseases including the emergence of new problems such as AIDS. Local publications dealing with work on several microbial diseases is reviewed to show that this group of diseases will pose challenges for a long while. Undoubtedly several other diseases that were relatively unrecognised in the past are increasingly being identified owing to recent availability of diagnostic facilities and equipments. The need for continued vigilance is emphasised.

Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Infections/epidemiology*; Mycoses/epidemiology*; Virus Diseases/epidemiology*

Audit of imported and domestic malaria cases at Kuala Lumpur Hospital

Moore CS, Cheong I

Br J Clin Pract, 1995 Nov-Dec;49(6):304-7.

PMID: 8554954

The clinical, haematological and biochemical profiles of all domestic and imported malaria cases admitted to the Hospital Kuala Lumpur were analysed. The most common malaria types were Plasmodium falciparum (39.5%) and Plasmodium vivax (42%). The most common patient type was men aged 29-40 years (reflecting the high mobility of this group, many of whom were illegal immigrants). Misdiagnosis on admission was frequently due to the variable clinical presentation of the disease and the difficulties of obtaining an accurate history. Associated haematological abnormalities were common. Chloroquine resistance was diagnosed in four P. falciparum patients and in one P. falciparum/vivax patient. Overall, imported malaria did not seem more severe than domestic. The three patients with cerebral malaria survived. One patient died of acute liver failure. The large influx of illegal immigrants to Malaysia has resulted in a surge in malaria infection; illegal immigrants remain a source of chloroquine resistance.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/epidemiology; Malaria, Falciparum/epidemiology*; Malaria, Vivax/epidemiology*

Human muscular sarcocystosis in Malaysia

Wong KT, Pathmanathan R

Trop Geogr Med, 1993;45(4):191.

PMID: 8236476

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/epidemiology; Muscular Diseases/epidemiology*; Sarcocystosis/epidemiology*

Fulltext A one year community-based study on the incidence of diarrhoea and rotavirus infection in urban and suburban Malaysian children

Yap KL, Yasmin AM, Wong YH, Ooi YE, Tan SC, Jegathesan M, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 1992 Dec;47(4):303-8.

PMID: 1303484

A 1 year longitudinal study of 156 Malaysian children from urban and suburban areas in the Klang Valley revealed that the incidence rate of diarrhoea was 23.6 per 100 person-year with abnormal faeces reported on 0.26% of the total days of observation. Diarrhoea cases were detected in children from all socioeconomic classes. Rotavirus was isolated from 12% of the diarrheic children and asymptomatic rotavirus infection occurred in 3.2% of the children. All rotaviruses isolated were group A rotaviruses with long electrophoretypic pattern.

Matched MeSH terms: Diarrhea/epidemiology*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Rotavirus Infections/epidemiology*

Fulltext A retrospective study of serum calcium levels in a hospital population in Malaysia

Aishah AB, Foo YN

Med J Malaysia, 1995 Sep;50(3):246-9.

PMID: 8926903

A retrospective six-month study of serum calcium and albumin in patients treated at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital was carried out. There were 19,291 subjects, of which the prevalences of hypocalcemia (corrected serum calcium of < or = 2.1 mmol/l) and hypercalcemia (corrected serum calcium of > 2.7 mmol/l) were 18.0% (3460 subjects) and 2.4% (468 subjects) respectively. Persistent hypocalcemia (a minimum of first two consecutive corrected serum calcium of < or = 2.1 mmol/l) was found in 408/19,291 subjects 2.1%). Serum calcium values of < 2.00 mmol/l were found in 98.5% of this group. Persistent hypercalcemia (a minimum of first two consecutive corrected serum calcium of > 2.7 mmol/l) was found in 108/19,291 subjects (0.5%) and 52/108 subjects (48.1%) had serum calcium values of > or = 3.0 mmol/l. 2902/3460 subjects (83.8%) and 313/468 subjects (66.9%) the hypocalcemia and hypercalcemia groups respectively failed to be retested (singletons). In the hypocalcemia group, 1115/2902 (38.4%) showed corrected serum calcium values of < 2.00 mmol/l), whilst 100/313 subjects (31.9%) of the hypercalcemia group had corrected serum calcium values of > or = 3.00 mmol/l. There were no significant differences between the mean corrected serum calcium between 3 age groups of the test population, namely in childhood ( < or = 65 years).

Matched MeSH terms: Hypercalcemia/epidemiology; Hypocalcemia/epidemiology; Malaysia/epidemiology

Respiratory symptoms and asthma in primary school children in Kuala Lumpur

Omar AH

Acta Paediatr Jpn, 1990 Apr;32(2):183-7.

PMID: 2116069

In a cross-sectional study of 7 to 12-year-old primary school children in Kuala Lumpur, the prevalence of chronic cough and/or phlegm, persistent wheeze, and doctor-diagnosed asthma were 8.0%, 8.0% and 8.7%, respectively. The prevalence of asthma (defined as persistent wheeze and/or doctor-diagnosed asthma) was 13.8%. 4.3% experienced at least one episode of chest illness that resulted in inactivity for at least 3 days in the previous year. The mean age of commencement of symptoms in the doctor-diagnosed asthma group was 2.75 years. The prevalence of chronic cough and/or phlegm and persistent wheeze were highest among Indian children (p less than 0.05). More Malays had been diagnosed as having asthma than the other ethnic groups but the differences were not statistically significant. The patients' fathers' low levels of education were associated with chronic cough and/or phlegm (p less than 0.05) but not with other complaints. Asthma was significantly more common among boys than girls. No age differences were noted. Further analysis showed that persistent wheeze and doctor-diagnosed asthma were associated with increased likelihood of other respiratory illnesses or doctor-diagnosed allergy before the age of 2 years.

Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Diseases/epidemiology

Fulltext An epidemiological assessment of drug dependence in Malaysia--a trend analysis

Navaratnam V, Foong K

Med J Malaysia, 1989 Jun;44(2):92-103.

PMID: 2626130

Information from the national drug abuse monitoring system was analysed to determine the trends in extent and pattern of drug dependence in Malaysia over the period 1970 to 1986. The annual incidence and prevalence rates of reported drug dependents increased by many folds when compared to the early seventies. Generally, the profile of drug dependents identified has remained relatively stable throughout the years. A stable pattern of drug abuse was also noted over this period. Factors influencing the trend patterns are discussed, as well as the implications of these findings for policy purposes.

Matched MeSH terms: Heroin Dependence/epidemiology*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology*

Fulltext Primary liver cancer in Malaysian children

Sinniah D, Sumithran E, Lin HP, Chan LL, Toh CK

Med J Malaysia, 1980 Mar;34(3):265-8.

PMID: 6251351

The high incidence of primary liver cancer in Malaysian males is not observed in childhood, where it constitutes 0.16 per 1000 paediatric hospital admissions and 3.20/0 of all childhood malignancies at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. This frequency is comparable to that reported from several developed countries. The commonest liver tumour in children is the hepatoblastoma which is probably of embryonal origin and has a similar world wide "incidence. The relative infrequency of hepatocellular carcinoma in childhood and its association with cirrhosis, the hepatitis B antigen and its prevalence in the older age group helps to substantiate an acquired environmental aetiology.

Matched MeSH terms: Adenoma, Bile Duct/epidemiology*; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/epidemiology*; Liver Neoplasms/epidemiology*

Prevalence of Giardia in dogs in Malaysia: survey of a residential housing estate

Rahman WA

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1990 11 1;84(6):805.

PMID: 2096513

Matched MeSH terms: Dog Diseases/epidemiology*; Giardiasis/epidemiology; Malaysia/epidemiology

Epidemiology of persistent hepatitis B virus infection

Lopez CG

Malays J Pathol, 1985 Aug;7:7-10.

PMID: 3843253

Matched MeSH terms: Carrier State/epidemiology*; Hepatitis B/epidemiology*; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology

The oral health of pre-school children in a satellite town in Malaysia

Abdul Majid Z, Nik Hussein NN, Meon R

J Int Assoc Dent Child, 1987 Dec;18(2):36-40.

PMID: 3273298

Matched MeSH terms: Dental Caries/epidemiology*; Gingivitis/epidemiology*; Malaysia/epidemiology

Hearing loss and ear disorders in Malaysian school children

Elango S, Purohit GN, Hashim M, Hilmi R

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol, 1991 Jul;22(1):75-80.

PMID: 1917340

In Malaysia 1,307 randomly selected primary school children were screened to find out the prevalence of hearing loss and middle ear disorders. Seventy-six students (5.81%) failed the screening audiometric test. There were 95 students (7.26%) with middle ear disorders. History of ear discharge was absent in 24 out of 57 cases with CSOM (42.11%) (P less than 0.001). Forty-three out of 95 children having middle ear disorders passed the screening audiometric test (P less than 0.01 Fisher exact test). Screening audiometric test fails to detect about 46% of cases with middle ear disorders. Screening audiometric test and otological examination if conducted by the school health medical officers regularly will be able to detect almost all the cases with hearing loss and middle ear disorders.

Matched MeSH terms: Hearing Disorders/epidemiology*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Otitis Media/epidemiology*

Fulltext Hand eczema in Malaysians

Ting HC

Med J Malaysia, 1983 Dec;38(4):304-7.

PMID: 6599987

One-hundred-and-four patients unth. hand eczema were studied. The female to male ratio was 1.9:1 and peak incidence was in young adulthood. In females, housewives constituted the biggest group while in males, mechanics/engineers was the biggest group. 30% of the patients had contact sensitivity on patch testing to a standard series. Balsams, medicaments, rubber ingredients, nickel and formaldehyde were the common allergens. The contact sensitivity was considered relevant in 65% of cases.

Matched MeSH terms: Dermatitis, Atopic/epidemiology; Dermatitis, Contact/epidemiology; Hand Dermatoses/epidemiology

Molecular epidemiology of enterovirus 71 infection in the Western Pacific Region

Shimizu H, Utama A, Onnimala N, Li C, Li-Bi Z, Yu-Jie M, et al.

Pediatr Int, 2004 Apr;46(2):231-5.

PMID: 15056257

Recently, there have been large outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) mainly caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71) associated with severe neurological diseases in the Western Pacific Region (WPR). To monitor the realtime trend of EV71 transmission throughout the WPR, the authors conducted a molecular epidemiological analysis of EV71 infection.

Matched MeSH terms: China/epidemiology; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/epidemiology*; Thailand/epidemiology

WHO/WPRO/SEARO meeting on DengueNet implementation in south-east Asia and the western Pacific, Kuala Lumpur, 11-13 December 2004

Wkly. Epidemiol. Rec., 2004 Feb 06;79(6):57-62.

PMID: 14986570

Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology; Dengue/epidemiology*; Malaysia/epidemiology

Anencephalic pregnancies in a Malaysian hospital

Ong HC, Singh H, Ng TK, Chong CH

Med J Malaysia, 1978 Mar;32(3):212-4.

PMID: 683044

Matched MeSH terms: Anencephaly/epidemiology*; Pre-Eclampsia/epidemiology; Pregnancy Complications/epidemiology*

Natural Plasmodium infection in wild macaques of three states in peninsular Malaysia

Amir A, Shahari S, Liew JWK, de Silva JR, Khan MB, Lai MY, et al.

Acta Trop, 2020 Nov;211:105596.

PMID: 32589995 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105596

Zoonotic cases of Plasmodium knowlesi account for most malaria cases in Malaysia, and humans infected with P. cynomolgi, another parasite of macaques have recently been reported in Sarawak. To date the epidemiology of malaria in its natural Macaca reservoir hosts remains little investigated. In this study we surveyed the prevalence of simian malaria in wild macaques of three states in Peninsular Malaysia, namely Pahang, Perak and Johor using blood samples from 103 wild macaques (collected by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia) subjected to microscopic examination and nested PCR targeting the Plasmodium small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. As expected, PCR analysis yielded significantly higher prevalence (64/103) as compared to microscopic examination (27/103). No relationship between the age and/or sex of the macaques with the parasitaemia and the Plasmodium species infecting the macaques could be identified. Wild macaques in Pahang had the highest prevalence of Plasmodium parasites (89.7%), followed by those of Perak (69.2%) and Johor (28.9%). Plasmodium inui and P. cynomolgi were the two most prevalent species infecting the macaques from all three states. Half of the macaques (33/64) harboured two or more Plasmodium species. These data provide a baseline survey, which should be extended by further longitudinal investigations that should be associated with studies on the bionomics of the anopheline vectors. This information will allow an accurate evaluation of the risk of zoonotic transmission to humans, and to elaborate effective strategies to control simian malaria.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaria/epidemiology; Malaysia/epidemiology; Monkey Diseases/epidemiology

Fulltext Geographical distribution of soil transmitted helminths and the effects of community type in South Asia and South East Asia - A systematic review

Silver ZA, Kaliappan SP, Samuel P, Venugopal S, Kang G, Sarkar R, et al.

PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2018 01;12(1):e0006153.

PMID: 29346440 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006153

BACKGROUND: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are among the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases (NTD) worldwide. Since the publication of the WHO road map to combat NTD in 2012, there has been a renewed commitment to control STH. In this study, we analysed the geographical distribution and effect of community type on prevalence of hookworm, Trichuris and Ascaris in south Asia and south east Asia.

METHODOLOGY: We conducted a systematic review of open-access literature published in PubMed Central and the Global Atlas of Helminth Infection. A total of 4182 articles were available and after applying selection criteria, 174 studies from the region were retained for analysis.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Ascaris was the commonest STH identified with an overall prevalence of 18% (95% CI, 14-23%) followed by Trichuris (14%, 9-19%) and hookworm (12%, 9-15%). Hookworm prevalence was highest in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. We found a geographical overlap in countries with high prevalence rates for Trichuris and Ascaris (Malaysia, Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam and Bangladesh). When the effect of community type was examined, prevalence rates of hookworm was comparable in rural (19%, 14-24%) and tribal communities (14%, 10-19%). Tribal communities, however, showed higher prevalence of Trichuris (38%, 18-63%) and Ascaris (32%, 23-43%) than rural communities (13%, 9-20% and 14%, 9-20% respectively). Considerable between and within country heterogeneity in the distribution of STH (I2 >90%) was also noted. When available data from school aged children (SAC) were analysed, prevalence of Ascaris (25% 16-31%) and Trichuris (22%, 14-34%) were higher than among the general population while that of hookworm (10%, 7-16%) was comparable.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our analysis showed significant variation in prevalence rates between and within countries in the region. Highlighting the importance of community type in prevalence and species mix, we showed that tribal and rural communities had higher hookworm infections than urban communities and for ascariasis and trichuriasis, tribal populations had higher levels of infection than rural populations. We also found a higher prevalence of ascariasis and trichuriasis in SAC compared to the general population but comparable levels of hookworm infections. These key findings need to be taken into account in planning future MDA and other interventions.

Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology*; Asia, Southeastern/epidemiology; Trichuriasis/epidemiology*

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