A preliminary study of CD4+ T-lymphocyte count in tuberculosis patients

We evaluated the CD4+ T cell count in tuberculosis patients, whether it may be a supportive indicator reflecting the immune status of the patient. A total of 55 patients and 50 controls were included. Patients were within the age range of 19-65 years with a mean of 42.836 + or - 16.24 SD. These included 43 male and 12 female subjects with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Age and sex matched subjects were included as controls. CD4+ T-lymphocyte count was determined manually with Coulter Manual CD4 Count Kit. A significant reduction in mean CD4 count against control subjects was observed (p=0.004, d.f. 103). A correlation coefficient of 0.546 was observed between CD4 count and percentage of differential lymphocyte count from the peripheral blood. the results indicate that measurement of CD4 count using above method is worthwhile for tuberculosis patients as an adjunct to clinical parameters for the assessment of the immune status of the patient.

Rapid and efficient removal of immature Aedes aegypti in metal drums by sweep net and modified sweeping method.

A modified sweeping method was developed using a cotton sweep net for control of Ae. aegypti immatures in 200 liter (44 gallon) metal drums which are major sources of breeding in Yangon. Laboratory experiments revealed that with only 4 sweeps (approximately 10 minutes duration), the mean % removal (+/- SD) of Ae. aegypti fourth stage larvae was 88.5% +/- 1.47. This was followed by a field study undertaken in Sanchaung township, Yangon. Twenty-eight drums with moderate (< 500 immatures) to high (> or = 500 immatures) Ae. aegypti density were tested in the field. It was found that with only 4 sweeps per drum, a total of 24,886 immatures were removed out of 29,155 immatures in these 28 drums, giving a mean % removal per drum of 85.36% +/- 10.74 (range = 55.54-98.62%). This sweeping method is simple, cost-effective, and readily accepted by the community. It could be an appropriate technology for control of the dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) vector Ae. aegypti.

Applicability of WHO criteria by community health workers for diagnosis of acute lower respiratory infections

Applicabiligy of simple clinical signs (WHO, 1990 ARI classification) by community health workers (CHWs) for the diagnosis of Acute Lower Respiratory Infections (ALRI) especially pneumonia, were evaluated in ort-patient department of Yangon Children's Hospital from November 1990 to February 1991. 944 under-five children presenting with Acute Respiratory Infection related symptoms of less than 7 days duration were included in the study. The percentage agreement of diagnosis status by CHWs with reference to project Medical Officers (gold standard) were Kappa 0.5126 (p<0.001) in less than 2 months old infants and Kappa 0.5442 (p<0.001) in children aged 2 months to 5 years. CHWs were able to detect important cllinical sings like chest indrawing in percentage agreement of 85.1 Percent. However, perecentage agreement in respiratory rate was found to be 60.2 Percent and there was incorrectness in counting the respiratory rate as the rate increased. Divverences in the level of agreement on these important clinical signs misclassified the disease category resulting in low percentage agreement in discriminating the disease severity.

Epidemiology of sports injury in Myanmar athletes

An epidemiological study of sports injury was conducted in early part of 1990. Records of five different federations, namely track and field, foot ball, volley ball, boxing and weight lifting from outpatients department of the Aung San Stadium, were collected for 1985, 1986, and 1987. An interview study was also carried out in 116 Myanmar selected athletes from the above five federations, to determine the possible causal factors of sports injury. Three year average incidence rate of sports injury in five federations was 5.5 per 100 athletes. Common sites of injury, major types of injury, type of treatment, health seeking pattern, causes of sports injury were described, and discussed.

A knowledge-preception-behaviour study on malaria in two island villages and two timber extraction camps in Tanintharyi Division

<A> malaria related knowledge-perception-behaviour study was undertaken in January 1989 in Pu-law-ton-tone (8 km from Kaw-thaung) and Pan-zin (10 km from Myeik) villages by interviewing heads ofn household, and in Han-ka-dine (western coast in Boke-pyin township) and Nam-ton (eastern border in Kaw-thaung township) timber camps by questioning the personnel concerned. In both the villages, more than 85 per cent of the respondents had none or low level of knowledge concerning biting position and breeding places of Anopheles mosquito, cause of malaria, awareness of chemoprophylaxis and chemotherapy against malaria. However, in comparison with the latter respondents, the former knew less significantly about the biting time of mosquito, and spread mof malaria; and perceived less significantly on susceptibility, severity, and controllability of malaria, benefits of selected antimalarial control measures. The greater number of people in Pu-law-ton-tone relied malaria treatment on general medical practitioners (37 per cent) and self-medication (29 per cent), while those in Pan-zin on Community Health Worker (38 per cent) and midwife (29 per cent). Similarly, the patterns of lack and difference in knowledge and perception on malaria between Han-ka-dine and Nam-ton timber workers were comparable to those seen in the two villages. The causes of dis-similarity in knowledge and perception on malaria between the villages and the camps and the facts to be emphasized in providing health education are discussed.