MyMedR

Fulltext A case of prolonged fever and a diagnosis obscured by an opaque sinus

Velayudhan M, Lee CW

Med J Malaysia, 2014 Jun;69(3):140-1.

Prolonged fever in patients can be a diagnostic challenge. Clinicians generally consider infectious diseases, malignant diseases and collagen vascular diseases as possible causes of pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO). Even after extensive evaluation as many as 15 percent of patients with prolonged fever may remain undiagnosed. This case report describes subacute thyroiditis as a cause of prolonged fever and documents how that diagnosis was finally made after 40 days of fever.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases

Evaluation of the Atlas Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test for diagnosis of infection in adult patients

Osman HA, Hasan H, Suppian R, Bahar N, Hussin NS, Rahim AA, et al.

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2014;15(13):5245-7.

PMID: 25040982

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the most important causes of dyspepsia and gastric cancer and diagnosis can be made by invasive or non-invasive methods. The Atlas Helicobacter pylori antigen test is a new rapid non-invasive method which is simple to conduct. The aim of this study was to determine its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted between July 2012 and December 2013. Stool samples of 59 dyspeptic patients who underwent upper endoscopy were evaluated for H. pylori stool antigen.

RESULTS: From the 59 patients who participated in this study, there were 36 (61%) males and 23 (39%) females. H. pylori was diagnosed in 24 (40.7%) gastric biopsies, 22 (91.7 %) of these being positive for the Atlas H. pylori antigen test. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were 91.7%, 100%, 100%, 94.6% and 96.6% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The Atlas H. pylori antigen test is a new non-invasive method which is simple to perform and avails reliable results in a few minutes. Thus it can be the best option for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection due to its high sensitivity and specificity.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases/diagnosis; Communicable Diseases/immunology; Communicable Diseases/microbiology

Fulltext Plasmodium knowlesi malaria an emerging public health problem in Hulu Selangor, Selangor, Malaysia (2009-2013): epidemiologic and entomologic analysis

Vythilingam I, Lim YA, Venugopalan B, Ngui R, Leong CS, Wong ML, et al.

Parasit Vectors, 2014;7:436.

PMID: 25223878 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-436

While transmission of the human Plasmodium species has declined, a significant increase in Plasmodium knowlesi/Plasmodium malariae cases was reported in Hulu Selangor, Selangor, Malaysia. Thus, a study was undertaken to determine the epidemiology and the vectors involved in the transmission of knowlesi malaria.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases, Emerging/epidemiology; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/parasitology; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/transmission*

Fulltext Parental refusal to diphtheria vaccine: a fatal outcome

Syafinaz Amin N, Faridah I, Rukman AH, Fathinul Fakri AS, Malina O, Fadzillah G, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 2013 Oct;68(5):435-6.

PMID: 24632874 MyJurnal

We present a case of a four-year-old boy who succumbed to diphtheria following incomplete course of immunisation, which included diphtheria vaccine. This case report focuses on the issues of parental refusal to vaccines and the development of "halal" vaccines for the prevention of infectious diseases.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases

Imported tropical neuroinfections: practice skills and knowledge among nurses and nursing students

Rajoo M, Sulicova A, Mroskova S, Supinova M, Plackova A, Bystra M, et al.

Neuro Endocrinol. Lett., 2013 Sep;34(Suppl 1):45-7.

PMID: 24013609

OBJECTIVE: Tropical neuroinfections are still cause of substantial mortality in travelers. Therefore, good knowledge of early symptoms is very important for nurses acting as first contact persons.

METHODS: Nurse's practical skills and knowledge of signs and early recognition of tropical neuroinfections, providing first aid and quick action has been studied among graduates of two Tropical Nursing PhD programs (in EU-Countries vs. tropical country) using a standardized questionnaire. Statistical package EPI info was used to determine potential differences between both groups of graduates.

RESULTS: Acceptable knowledge on early symptoms and signs of cerebral malaria and meningococcal meningitis in returning travelers was found among 121 graduates of two PhD programs who were included in the study. Of these, 99 questionnaires were filled in Slovakia, Czech Republic and Germany and another 22 were filled in Malaysia, as a part of the Tropical Nursing PhD Study Programs.

CONCLUSION: Nursing students and recent graduates in two PhD programs demonstrated acceptable, although not large-scaled, knowledge of early signs and symptoms of tropical neuroinfections.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases

Fulltext Incidence, risk factors and clinical epidemiology of melioidosis: a complex socio-ecological emerging infectious disease in the Alor Setar region of Kedah, Malaysia

Hassan MR, Pani SP, Peng NP, Voralu K, Vijayalakshmi N, Mehanderkar R, et al.

BMC Infect Dis, 2010;10:302.

PMID: 20964837 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-10-302

Melioidosis, a severe and fatal infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is believed to an emerging global threat. However, data on the natural history, risk factors, and geographic epidemiology of the disease are still limited.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases, Emerging/mortality; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/epidemiology*; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/pathology

Fulltext "Discovery to treatment" window in patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis

Loh LC, Codati A, Jamil M, Noor ZM, Vijayasingham P

Med J Malaysia, 2005 Aug;60(3):314-9.

PMID: 16379186

Delay in commencing treatment in patients diagnosed with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) may promote the spread of PTB in the community. Socio-demographic and clinical data from 169 patients (119 retrospectively and 50 prospectively collected) treated for smear-positive PTB in our hospital Chest Clinic from June 2002 to February 2003 were analysed. One hundred and fifty eight (93.5%) patients were started on treatment in less than 7 days from the time when the report first became available while 11 (6.5%) patients had their treatment started > or = 7 days. The median 'discovery to treatment' window was 1 day (range, 0 to 24 days). Of the factors studied, longevity of symptoms, absence of fever or night sweats and having sought traditional medicine were associated with delay in treatment commencement. The urgency and importance of anti-TB treatment should be emphasized especially to patients who are inclined towards treatment with traditional medicine.
Keywords: Smear positive, pulmonary tuberculosis, treatment delay, traditional medicine, Malaysia, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases, Emerging/diagnosis; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/drug therapy; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/microbiology

Conservation medicine and a new agenda for emerging diseases

Daszak P, Tabor GM, Kilpatrick AM, Epstein J, Plowright R

Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2004 Oct;1026:1-11.

PMID: 15604464

The last three decades have seen an alarming number of high-profile outbreaks of new viruses and other pathogens, many of them emerging from wildlife. Recent outbreaks of SARS, avian influenza, and others highlight emerging zoonotic diseases as one of the key threats to global health. Similar emerging diseases have been reported in wildlife populations, resulting in mass mortalities, population declines, and even extinctions. In this paper, we highlight three examples of emerging pathogens: Nipah and Hendra virus, which emerged in Malaysia and Australia in the 1990s respectively, with recent outbreaks caused by similar viruses in India in 2000 and Bangladesh in 2004; West Nile virus, which emerged in the New World in 1999; and amphibian chytridiomycosis, which has emerged globally as a threat to amphibian populations and a major cause of amphibian population declines. We discuss a new, conservation medicine approach to emerging diseases that integrates veterinary, medical, ecologic, and other sciences in interdisciplinary teams. These teams investigate the causes of emergence, analyze the underlying drivers, and attempt to define common rules governing emergence for human, wildlife, and plant EIDs. The ultimate goal is a risk analysis that allows us to predict future emergence of known and unknown pathogens.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases, Emerging/diagnosis; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/epidemiology; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/therapy*

Fulltext Determination of Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Javanica and Leptospira interrogans serovar Bataviae as the persistent Leptospira serovars circulating in the urban rat populations in Peninsular Malaysia

Benacer D, Mohd Zain SN, Sim SZ, Mohd Khalid MK, Galloway RL, Souris M, et al.

Parasit Vectors, 2016;9:117.

PMID: 26927873 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1400-1

Leptospirosis is an emerging infectious disease of global significance, and is endemic in tropical countries, including Malaysia. Over the last decade, a dramatic increase of human cases was reported; however, information on the primary vector, the rat, and the Leptospira serovars circulating among the rat population is limited. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to isolate Leptospira and characterise the serovars circulating in the urban rat populations from selected main cities in Peninsular Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases, Emerging

Fulltext First Case Report of Canthariasis in an Infant Caused by the Larvae of Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae)

Mokhtar AS, Sridhar GS, Mahmud R, Jeffery J, Lau YL, Wilson JJ, et al.

J Med Entomol, 2016 Sep 01;53(5):1234-1237.

PMID: 27208008 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw071

We report an unusual cause of gastrointestinal infection occurring in a 1-year-old infant patient who was brought to a public hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Larvae passed out in the patient's feces were confirmed by DNA barcoding as belonging to the species, Lasioderma serricorne (F.), known as the cigarette beetle. We postulate that the larvae were acquired from contaminated food and were responsible for gastrointestinal symptoms in the patient. To our knowledge, this the first report of human canthariasis caused by larvae of L. serricorne.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases

[Emergence of transmissible disorders, a continuous process--a new type of viral meningoencephalitis]

Ivan A, Indrei LL

Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi, 2000 Apr-Jun;104(2):51-5.

PMID: 12089991

In the interval 1994-1999, in Australia, Malaysia and Singapore, epizootic and epidemiological episodes of meningoencephalitis and severe acute respiratory syndromes were reported. Highly lethal in horses, swine and humans, the episodes were proved to be caused by the "new" viruses Hendra (HeV) and Nipah (NiV). At the same time three "new" viral agents have been isolated: Lyssavirus, Menanglevirus and Tupaia paramyxovirus. The intense contemporary circulation of people, animals and food products together with changes in human ecosystem favor new relations between humans and the "natural reservoirs" of biologic agents with a pathogenic potential for domestic and peridomestic animals and humans.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases, Emerging/epidemiology; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/veterinary; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/virology*

Occupational health problems among nurses

Tan CC

Scand J Work Environ Health, 1991 Aug;17(4):221-30.

PMID: 1925433

Nurses are an integral component of the health care delivery system. In discharging their duties, nurses encounter a variety of occupational health problems which may be categorized into biological hazards, chemical hazards, physical hazards, and psychosocial hazards. A review of some examples of each of these four types of hazards is presented in this article. Particular attention has been devoted to hepatitis B, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, tuberculosis, cytotoxic drugs, anesthetic agents, needlestick injury, back pain, and stress.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases

Fulltext Implication of predator interaction of the spread of hantavirus infection

Yusof, F. M., Md. Ismail, A. I. B., Abu Hasan, Y.

MATEMATIKA, 2018;34(2):205-226.

MyJurnal

Hantaviruses are etiological agents of zoonotic diseases and certain other dis-
eases, which pose a serious threat to human health. When rodent and predator popula-
tions share in an ecology, the competitive force of the populations can lead to a reduction
or elimination of a hantavirus outbreak. The effect of the predator eliminating rodents
and predator populations that tends to reduce or eliminate hantavirus infection is investi-
gated. The existence of several equilibrium points of the model is identified and local and
global stabilities of the model at these equilibrium points are analysed in detail. Numerical
simulations are carried out to illustrate our model results.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases

Fulltext The development of nutrition pictograph design on food labeling using Delphi Technique

Aida Md Saad, Siti Zuraida Maaruf

ESTEEM Academic Journal, 2020;16(1):15-26.

MyJurnal

Recently consumers are facing the issue of health problems such as Non - Communicable Disease (NCD) occurring in the society due to unhealthy lifestyle and behaviours. Consumers have claimed that they have knowledge about nutrition information but with low awareness level to read the
nutrition information and difficulties to interpret the nutrition information on the food label. The nutrition contained in the food has been presented in numerical data and unattractive design. Plus, the rush when shopping will make the consumers neglect to read the food label. This research attempted to focus on the development of a suitable and usable nutrition pictograph design as a tool to educate the consumers in choosing a healthier selection of packed food. The researchers used the Delphi Technique as a medium in choosing the appropriate nutrition pictograph design, which should be incorporated into the selected food label. Findings from this study revealed positive feedback and reached a consensus, and all expert panels have agreed on the development of the nutrition pictogram design. Therefore, the implication of this study is targeted towards the consumers, Ministry of Health and food manufacturers. It can also contribute to the growth of the Visual Communication field. This nutrition pictograph design is intended to educate and inculcate the consumers and enhance health awareness in selecting the healthier choice of food.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases

Fulltext Host, pathogen and environment: a bacterial gbpA gene expression study in response to magnesium environment and presence of prawn carapace and commercial chitin

Tiruvayipati S, Bhassu S

Gut Pathog, 2016;8:23.

PMID: 27231485 DOI: 10.1186/s13099-016-0105-5

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a Gram-negative halophilic bacterium which is found largely in estuarine and coastal waters. The bacteria has been a main focus in gastro-intestinal infections caused primarily due to the consumption of contaminated seafood. It was shown to survive in magnesium concentrations as high as 300 mM which are toxic to various other micro-organisms. Several genes of V. parahaemolyticus were studied, among which gbpA (N-acetyl glucosamine binding protein) was reported in Vibrio cholerae.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases

Effects Of Biotic Interactions, Abiotic Environments And Harvesting On The Spread Of Hantavirus Infection

Fauzi Mohamed Yusof, Mohd Hafiz Mohd, Yazariah Mohd Yatim, Ahmad Izani Md. Ismail

MATEMATIKA, 2020;36(1):1-14.

MyJurnal

In this paper, the combined influences of biotic interactions, environmental components and harvesting strategy on the spread of Hantavirus are investigated. By employing a multi-species model consisting of (susceptible and infected) rodents and alien species, we show that interspecific competition from alien species has an effect in reducing the spread of infection, and this species could be employed as a potential biocontrol agent. Our analysis using numerical continuation and simulation also reveals the conditions under which Hantavirus infection occurs and disappears as the environmental conditions and the intensity of harvesting change. Without harvesting, infection emerges when environments are conducive. Inclusion of moderate harvesting in favourable environments can lead to disappearance of infection among rodent species. However, as the intensity of harvesting increases, this situation can cause extinction of all rodents species and consequently, jeopardise biodiversity. Overall, our results demonstrate how the interplay of different factors can combine to determine the spread of infectious diseases.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases

The Effects of Amplification and Dilution Agent in Transmitting Sin Nombre Virus (SNV) in Deer Mouse Population

Lloyd Wen Feng Lee, Mohd Hafiz Mohd

MATEMATIKA, 2020;36(2):85-98.

MyJurnal

1Malaysia
2 (UKM)43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
∗Corresponding author:

Numerous studies have linked biodiversity with zoonotic disease control. However, researchers have warned against simply believing that the increase in biodiversity can reduce the infection disease in the community. They proposed that amplification effect (increase in biodiversity accompanied by an increase in disease prevalence) might sometimes occur. Thus, we formulated a deterministic model to consider the impact of an amplification or dilution agent on the SNV transmission in the deer mouse population. Bifurcation analysis was carried out to examine the combined influences of the environmental carrying capacity, the interspecific competition strength and the impact of amplification or dilution agent on the deer mouse population. Our results showed that the system with amplification agent required a higher carrying capacity or stronger interspecific strength to compensate for its amplification effect in suppressing the SNV prevalence; this situation explains the lack of reduction in SNV prevalence despite the presence of high biodiversity in some empirical studies. In this study, we highlight the importance of investigating the roles of the additional species in an assemblage to better understand their relationship with the SNV prevalence in deer mouse population.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases

Fulltext Ochrobactrum anthropi bacteremia with variable clinical course: report of two cases

Durga Arinandini Arimuthu, Christopher Thiam Seong Lim

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(1):339-341.

MyJurnal

Ochrobactrum anthropi is a rare nosocomial pathogen that is manifesting itself mostly in immunocompromised patients and those with indwelling catheters. Identification of the microorganism is challenging and the ability to survive in aquatic surroundings have made it a clinically significant pathogen. Furthermore, the clinical picture of
O. anthropi infection, is not well described. It may manifest in any form of clinical infections though bacteremia is the most common mode of presentation reported in the limited literature. We report here two cases of O. anthropi bacteremia presenting in an immunocompetent and an immunocompromised host respectively with different clini- cal manifestation and response. In view of the highly variable presentation of O.anthropi, a high index of suspicion must be given to at risks patients to ensure the timely diagnosis and optimal clinical outcome.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases

Fulltext Situation of Melioidosis in Tuaran (2017)

Marilyn Maluda, Noraziah B. Bakri

Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences, 2018;12(101):13-0.

MyJurnal

Melioidosis an infectious disease caused by gram-negative bacteria, Burkholderia pseudomallei is highly endemic in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and parts of northern Australia. The district of Tuaran which is located on the west coast of Sabah had reported an increasing trend of Melioidosis cases where in 2017, a total of 19 cases were reported, more than doubling the number of cases reported the prior year (7 cases).

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases

Fulltext General Practitioners Involvement in Public Health Infectious Disease Surveillance, District of Kota Kinabalu: A Brief Descriptive Study

Musiun, Aldrin Alexander

Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences, 2018;12(101):25-0.

MyJurnal

Infectious disease remains a public health concern in Malaysia. Efficient public health infectious disease surveillance is needed in order to address the issues posed by infectious disease. The main goal of public health infectious disease surveillance is to facilitate the control and prevention of the infectious diseases. For that, infectious disease surveillance needs involvement of multidiscipline either in government or non-government/private to ensure its success. General practitioners (GPs) have an important role in public health infectious disease surveillance considering their role and position as one of the main front liner medical personnel.

Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases

Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 232 in total