Epidemiology of pediculosis capitis among schoolchildren in the eastern area of Bangkok, Thailand

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the prevalence of infestation with head lice in primary schoolchildren in the eastern area of Bangkok, Thailand.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The present study was to determine the head lice infestation (Pediculosis) levels in primary schoolchildren, during May, 2011 to July, 2011, A total of 3 747 schoolchildren aged 5-12 years old from 12 selected primary school of Ladkrabang district, the eastern area of Bangkok were examined for head lice. Pediculosis was defined as the presence of at least on living adult, nymph and viable egg.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall head lice infestation rate was 23.32% and infestation rate was higher in girls (47.12%) than in boys (0%). The infestation rate among schoolchildren varied from 12.62% to 29.76%. The infestation rate among girls varied from 26.07% (12 years old group) to 55.89% (8 years old group).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Pediculosis is a common public health problem affecting primary schoolchildren in eastern area of Bangkok and those levels are epidemic importance.</p>

Epidemiology of pediculosis capitis among schoolchildren in the eastern area of Bangkok, Thailand

Objective: To determine the prevalence of infestation with head lice in primary schoolchildren in the eastern area of Bangkok, Thailand. Methods: The present study was to determine the head lice infestation (Pediculosis) levels in primary schoolchildren, during May, 2011 to July, 2011, A total of 3 747 schoolchildren aged 5-12 years old from 12 selected primary school of Ladkrabang district, the eastern area of Bangkok were examined for head lice. Pediculosis was defined as the presence of at least on living adult, nymph and viable egg. Results: The overall head lice infestation rate was 23.32% and infestation rate was higher in girls (47.12%) than in boys (0%). The infestation rate among schoolchildren varied from 12.62% to 29.76%. The infestation rate among girls varied from 26.07% (12 years old group) to 55.89% (8 years old group). Conclusions:Pediculosis is a common public health problem affecting primary schoolchildren in eastern area of Bangkok and those levels are epidemic importance.

Epidemiologic Features of Parainfluenza Virus Type 1, 2 and 3 Infection in Seoul and a Neighboring Area, 2008-2011 / 대한임상미생물학회지

BACKGROUND: Parainfluenza virus (PIV) is a significant cause of acute respiratory infections. Epidemiological information on PIV infection could be very helpful for patient management. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of PIV infection in Seoul and a neighboring area with regard to PIV type. METHODS: The diagnosis of PIV infection was made by virus isolation. The R-mix Too cell system (Diagnostic Hybrids, Inc., Athens, OH, USA) and D3 Ultra DFA Respiratory Virus Screening & ID kits (Diagnostic Hybrids, Inc.) were used for virus culture and identification. The medical records of patients with positive virus cultures were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Seven hundred and ten PIV viruses (5.6%) were isolated from 12,723 specimens. The number of subjects with PIV type III, I and II was 357, 304 and 49, respectively. PIV infection showed a peak incidence in the first year of life regardless of subtypes. The most common diagnosis among all PIV subtypes was pneumonia. Lower respiratory tract infections constituted the majority (76.3%) of PIV infections. The most common diagnosis of PIV type I and II was croup and that of PIV type III was pneumonia. A difference in seasonal variation between subtypes was observed. PIV I (62.2%) was mainly isolated from July to September while PIV type III (86.8%) was isolated from April to July. CONCLUSION: Lower respiratory infection was most commonly found in hospitalized patients with PIV infection. Clinical features of PIV infection were similar those seen in Western PIV reports, with the exception of the seasonal outbreak pattern.

Diversity And Dynamics Of Populations And Disease Susceptibility.

In an endemic environment, all susceptibles will develop the disease.†South India, like the rest of the country is known for its caste system. The origin, level of inbreeding, endogamy and sympatric isolation amongst the caste system will lead to divergence of their gene pool and Ir (Immune response) genes are no exception to this. These differences may result in differential susceptibility at the population level. The lessons from inbred strains of animals explain this phenomenon and no immunologist or geneticist of today would like to carry out an experiment by mixing up the different strains of a species. In human populations in general, and in Indian caste groups in particular, the population dynamics like migration, miscegenation, social taboos and marriage patterns skew the picture and mask the differences between these populations particularly the prevalence and susceptibility to disease. Most of the research workers are disabled having a limited knowledge and even more limited facilities to do an 'ideal' experimental study in humans. Thus, in any clinical disease or immunological study in humans, a (case), caste, sex, nativity and haplotype (HLA or Ir gene) matched controls may need to be studied to understand the immunogenetic basis of disease susceptibility. The studies hitherto carried out at Madurai have revealed: i) different caste groups possess different haplotypes, some characteristic to a caste whereas others were common to many of them, ii) genetic distance calculated based on allele frequency brought out their affinity to each other; iii) not many Brahmin populations of India, have the same of the gene pool, presumably because of their origin, though they have all adopted the Hindu philosophy and religion, iv) numerically larger and geographically adjacent patrilineal clans of a tribe are genetically closer to each other; v ) a given HLA disease association transcend ethnic barrier (eg. pulmonary tuberculosis, leprosy), due to Ir gene dependant immunogeneric predisposition, vi) a few other HLA disease associations found in some populations or caste groups and not in others (eg. psoriasis) may be due to a linked gene and hitch hike phenomenon. Another new dimension is added to this genetic epidemiology: settlements, population size and the microbial world and infections increase in size as a function of time over the decades, resulting in faster transmission of a disease. The epidemiology is also changing over a period in the same place. As a result the newborn of today are subjected to a newer set of stress and selections than they were a generation ago. The epidemiology is known to affect the thymic education of lymphocytes through MHC, resulting in a different repertoire among children brought up in different environments. This has had great implications in subsequent environmental challenges and infections. Today any problem should be investigated and tackled by a group of open minded, knowledgeable scientists cutting across the barriers of their field of specializations. This is the need of the hour in this country.

Cross-cultural study of alcoholism: comparison between Kangwha, Korea and Yanbian, China

A cross-cultural comparison study of alcohol use disorder between Kangwha and Yanbian was conducted using the Korean version of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). The subjects of the two areas studied were all native Koreans but lived in different sociocultural environments. A significant difference in lifetime prevalence rate of alcohol abuse (Kangwha 16.48%, Yanbian 6.95%; p less than 0.05) and similarity of alcohol dependence (Kangwha 10.23%, Yanbian 11.50%; p less than 0.05) were found. Among a total of 21 items of alcoholic symptoms, 14 items showed significant differences in frequencies between the two areas. The authors have suggested that alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are two different diagnostic categories in origin, alcohol abuse is more related to socio-cultural environment and alcohol dependence to biogenetic background. The authors have discussed the possible reasons for a higher prevalence rate of alcohol abuse in Kangwha compared to Yanbian.