Male-female differences in the number of reported incident dengue fever cases in six Asian countries.

INTRODUCTION: Demographic factors, such as age and sex, are associated with the likelihood of exposure to Aedes aegypti, the vector for dengue. However, dengue data disaggregated by both sex and age are not routinely reported or analysed by national surveillance systems. This study analysed the reported number of incident dengue cases by age and sex for six countries in Asia. METHODS: Data for the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka were obtained from DengueNet; the number of male and female dengue cases was available for four age groups (< 1, 1-4, 5-14 and ≥ 15 years) over a cumulative period of six to 10 years. Data for Cambodia (2010) and Malaysia (1997-2008) were obtained from their respective ministries of health. RESULTS: An excess of males was found among reported dengue cases ≥ 15 years of age. This pattern was observed consistently over several years across six culturally and economically diverse countries. DISCUSSION: These data indicated the importance of reporting data stratified by both sex and age since collapsing the data over all ages would have masked some of the male-female differences. To target preventive measures appropriately, assessment of gender by age is important for dengue because biological or gender-related factors can change over the human lifespan and gender-related factors may differ across countries.

The impact of sex, gender and pregnancy on 2009 H1N1 disease.

Children and young adults of reproductive age have emerged as groups that are highly vulnerable to the current 2009 H1N1 pandemic. The sex of an individual is a fundamental factor that can influence exposure, susceptibility and immune responses to influenza. Worldwide, the incidence, disease burden, morbidity and mortality rates following exposure to the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus differ between males and females and are often age-dependent. Pregnancy and differences in the presentation of various risk factors contribute to the worse outcome of infection in women. Vaccination and antiviral treatment efficacy also vary in a sex-dependent manner. Finally, sex-specific genetic and hormonal differences may contribute to the severity of influenza and the clearance of viral infection. The contribution of sex and gender to influenza can only be determined by a greater consideration of these factors in clinical and epidemiological studies and increased research into the biological basis underlying these differences.

Epidemiological and statistical methods for rapid health assessment : Introduction

The use of rapid assessment techniques has increased markedly in recent years. Many of these techniques are new, others are innovative adaptations of more traditional methods. Rapid assessment methods aim to provide informtion quickly, at low cost, in a simple format, without detriment to accuracy. Emphasis is placed on obtaining information that can be used at the local level

This issue of the Quarterly reviews a number of statistical and epidemiological methods of rapid assessment from the point of view of their strengths and weaknesses, their applicability to field settings, their validity and reliability, and their potential for application to new situations

Both quantitative and qualitative methods are covered. Specific articles deal with: a simplified general method for cluster-sample surveys in developing countries; an evaluation of the Expanded Programme on Immunization survey methodology for estimating relative risk; lot quality assurance sampling - both the methodology behind it, and its application to field settings; the potential of case-control methodology for rapid epidemiological assessment; the value of questionnaires aimed ta key informants and distributed through an existing administrative system, for rapid cost-effective health assessment; the application of geographical information systems in public and environmental health; and rapid assessment of health needs in mass emergencies