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Query: UMLS:C0024530 (malaria)
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In a 3-year prospective study of 9584 consecutive paediatric admissions to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Banjul, The Gambia, we examined the impact of seasonal variations in childhood diseases. The four principal diseases (falciparum malaria, pneumonia, gastro-enteritis and malnutrition) all peaked in September to October following the rainy season. The mortality rate was also higher in the rainy season than in the dry season. Of the 1525 children with cerebral malaria, 83% were admitted during the extended rainy season from July to December. With the emergence of chloroquine-resistant malaria over the 3 years, there was a 27% annual increase in severe anaemia owing to malaria. The median age of malarial anaemia (23 months) was significantly younger than that of cerebral malaria (42 months). Malnutrition peaked immediately following the annual rainy season epidemics of bacterial gastro-enteritis but was not associated with the cool dry season rotavirus outbreaks. Rainy season diarrhoea was also associated with more persistent diarrhoea, an older mean age and a higher mortality. Meningitis was caused by either pneumococcus or Haemophilus influenzae in 64% of cases, of whom 19% were 0-2 months of age. Causes of death in hospital showed good agreement with Gambian community studies. We conclude that analysis of hospital data in a developing country can give accurate information on childhood morbidity and mortality patterns which can be used to set priorities for health care interventions. Seasonal variation is a cardinal feature of paediatric diseases in this part of Africa, and accentuates the vulnerability of children in poor families.
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PMID:Seasonal variation of paediatric diseases in The Gambia, west Africa. 768 9

Malaria is still a serious health problem in Thailand. Present attempts at controlling the disease by drug treatment and other means remain unsatisfactory. Thus, development of vaccination against malaria is a major research goal of malaria immunology. The objective of this study was to acquire epidemiological base line data for subsequent vaccine trials. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among 451 local inhabitants during the beginning of the transmission season in June 1989 at Pong Nam Ron District, Chanthaburi Province, Eastern Thailand where malaria transmission was likely to be high. Following the cross-sectional survey weekly morbidity surveillance was started to detect new cases of malaria by using active and passive case detection at the district hospital, local health centers and at neighboring malaria clinics. Entomological observations were made monthly to determine inoculation rates. Forty-six percent of the population were male and 54% female; one third were under the age of 15 and 14% under the age of 5 years. Eighty percent of the adults were married. Sixty percent of the subjects interviewed gave a history of malarial illness in the past. Malaria, malnutrition, abnormal hemoglobin diseases and parasitic infestation were the main health problems in the study area. The annual parasite incidence of malaria was 149.6/1,000 population and two-thirds of them were asymptomatic indicating a semi-immune condition among these subjects. It was difficult to interpret the results of entomological studies due to low density of the malaria vector.
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PMID:Epidemiological studies of malaria at Pong Nam Ron, eastern Thailand. 777 2

Over a period of 10 years, a hospital in rural Africa slowly built an integrated primary and secondary health care program to the point where it has more than 40 elements. In its initial stage (1982-84), hospital staff and community participants were trained, the number of mobile clinics was increased, community participation was sought, and health education was emphasized. During 1985-86, 92 village health committees were organized with 70 trained Village Health Workers (VHWs). This led to a rapid increase in vaccination rates, the use of oral rehydration therapy, and training of traditional birth attendants. In 1987-88, 14 VHW were trained to use basic medical kits and distribute medicines. By 1990, 18,000 of the 72,000 outpatient treatments were administered by VHWs. In 1987, the hospital made a community diagnosis and increased the size of its advisory board (which became 60% female). Because the community identified food, water, and poverty as its priorities, the hospital took steps to improve the food supply, the water supply, and the financial position of the women. In 1989-90, the primary health care (PHC) project added the components of family planning, a weaning food production unit, food coupons, food for work, grain banks, a trust fund, literacy classes, health stamps, a mobile malnutrition clinic, subsidized fertilizer and seed, low-cost care for victims of AIDS, new malaria treatment schedules, and a housing association. The PHC program has resulted in a reduction in under-five deaths from the national average of 330/1000 to 145/1000 (other areas have reduced deaths to 270-300/1000. The program is also becoming increasingly cost-effective, costing about 6 pounds per capita over 10 years for a population of 50,000. Country-wide implementation of the PHC program would require only 30% of the present health budget.
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PMID:Integrated health programmes. 777 93

The quality of the case management of common childhood illnesses (malaria, malnutrition, diarrhea, and acute respiratory tract infections) was assessed for rural Papua New Guinea. This evaluation focused on the knowledge and skills of health workers in the areas of history taking, examinations, diagnosis, treatment, and patient education. Data were gathered through observations and a questionnaire delivered to 195 health center workers (HCWs) in 12 locations and 18 aidpost workers (APWs) in 18 locations during January-February 1992. 45% of HCWs and 30% of APWs exhibited history-taking skills. Ranking of HCW skills revealed that increased education and training led to better scores. 34% of HCWs and 16% of APWs had an acceptable amount of examination knowledge. Although 93% of HCWs and 100% of APWs correctly diagnosed malaria, only 24 and 11%, respectively, indicated the correct treatment. 8% of HCWs and only one APW routinely checked all four indicators of acute respiratory infections, but 69% of HCWs and 55% of APWs stated the appropriate treatment. 54% of HCWs and 50% of APWs indicated appropriate reactions to diarrheal disease management, and 42% of HCWs and 50% of APWs would refer a severely malnourished child to the health center. Observations provided information on history-taking procedures (which were rudimentary), examination practices (better among HCWs than APWs), diagnosis and record-keeping practices (lacking, with inadequate or inappropriate treatment offered), and provision of health advice to mothers (rare, but accurate when provided). These findings indicate the need for in-service training and supervision. In addition, health workers need adequate supplies and equipment. These findings also call into question the cost-effectiveness of rural primary health services.
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PMID:Case management quality assessment in rural areas of Papua New Guinea. 893 55

All children 2 years and younger with diagnosis of gastroenteritis (diarrhea and vomiting) admitted to the Eldoret District Hospital between the February and June 1992 were enrolled. ELISA test was performed for HIV for each of the 57 children. In addition, relevant tests were carried out in all cases, such as hemogram, stool for ova and cysts, blood slide for malaria parasites, and urinalysis. The ELISA results were confirmed by the Western blot for all positive cases. A total of 57 children, 32 (56.1%) males and 25 (43.9%) females were studied. All the children were 2 years or younger, with 61.4% under 9 months old. The difference with respect to distribution of HIV positivity and negativity in those under 9 months and those above 9 months was significant (p 0.001). 29 of the 57 infants (50.9%) were ELISA and Western blot positive. Of the positive cases, 23 (79.3%) were 9 months or younger, with 6 (20.7%) between 9 months and 24 months (p 0.001). Of the 33 (58.3%) patients with diarrhea of less than 14 days' duration, 12 (36.70%) were seropositive, and of the 24 (41.7%) with diarrhea of more than 14 days, 17 (70.8%) were HIV positive. The difference in the duration of diarrhea in both the positive and negative cases in the 2 groups was significant. There were 34 patients who presented with diarrhea and vomiting alone of whom 15 (44.1%) were positive for HIV, while there were 10 who presented with diarrhea and either malnutrition or pneumonia with 8 (80%) positive for HIV. Diarrhea lasting more than 14 days was a significant parameter, as 70.8% of the patients in this category were seropositive for HIV compared to 36.7% in those with diarrhea of less than 14 days' duration (p 0.02). In addition, children 0-9 months old had a higher incidence of HIV seropositivity than the older age group, especially the age group 5-9 months, 73.6% of whom were seropositive.
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PMID:HIV seropositivity in children admitted with diarrhoea at Eldoret District Hospital, Kenya. 782 Dec 40

In February 1992 in Nigeria, pediatricians and community health workers interviewed parents living in 1263 households in the rural tropical rainforest community of Nko in Ugep Local Government Area of Cross River State to determine the pattern of infant and child mortality in a typical rural community and to examine family and social patterns which may influence child mortality. There were no records of birth and death in Nko. They identified 471 pediatric deaths (=or 15 year olds) that occurred during 1991. Children between 1 and 5 years old comprised the largest group of pediatric deaths (43.3%) followed by those older than 5 years (33.3%), 1-12 month old infants (18.1%), and newborns (5.1%). The leading causes of neonatal death were septicemia (37.5%), tetanus (20.8%), and birth asphyxia (20.8%). The leading causes of infant death included malaria (46.5%), protein energy malnutrition (PEM) (10.5%), pneumonia (10.5%), and diarrhea (10.5%). Among preschoolers (1-5 year olds), the major causes of death were malaria (35.8%), PEM (18.1%), and diarrhea (13.7%). Pneumonia (16.6%), malaria (15.3%), and tuberculosis (13.4%) were the chief causes of death among school-aged children. Among all 471 pediatric deaths, malaria was the leading cause of death. Pediatric deaths peaked in the months of March and August, periods of high malaria transmission during the transitional period from dry to wet season and from wet to dry season. Only 5% of the deceased children had adequate immunization coverage. 52.9% of the children were not treated in health facilities, as the nearest health facility was in the town of Ugep, 15 km away from Nko. Insufficient waste disposal, lack of potable water, and streams polluted with human wastes contribute to the diarrhea deaths. An open toilet system, bushes littered with domestic wastes, and no water drainage system are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Overcrowding in the homes foster the spread of infections. Protein-poor root crops predominate, leading to PEM.
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PMID:Community-based surveillance of paediatric deaths in Cross River State, Nigeria. 785 18

This paper opens by briefly tracing the development of vaccines from Edward Jenner's work in 1796 to the present. The proportion of deaths from communicable diseases in developed and developing countries is discussed, and it is noted that, in 1990, communicable diseases killed 575,000 people in industrialized countries and 16 million people in developing countries. In developed countries, there were no deaths from measles, malaria, tetanus, or pertussis, and only seven from diarrheal disease as compared to 1,006,000, 926,000, 505,000, 321,000, and 2,866,000, respectively, in developing countries. By the end of the century, AIDS will overshadow the communicable disease profile. Annual mortality figures from bites by rabid animals, snakes, insects, etc. are also grossly underreported. A look at the common biologicals used in developing countries shows that at least eight bacterial and eight viral vaccines are in common use globally. The origin and indications for each vaccine are tabulated. Data on anti-serum vaccines, plasma-derived preparations, and biological response modifiers (available in industrialized countries) are similarly tabulated. Consideration of the industrial production of immunogens in developing countries reveals that most production relies on outdated technology. Vaccines exhibit suboptimal performance in these settings either due to factors relating to individual vaccines or to community circumstances. Individual vaccines which exhibit inadequate potency in adverse circumstances include liquid vaccines and lyophilized vaccines and prophylactics. This situation is exacerbated by unsatisfactory vaccine administration practices, malnutrition, and cases of immunosuppression. Suboptimal performance at the community level is due to procurement procedure, the cost of vaccines, poverty, population growth, failures in the cold chain, lack of trained personnel, religion and gender bias, and political factors, such as war. A suitable remedial action plan requires integrated action at the international, national, and community levels. Such an effort would be aided by improved mortality data collection techniques and by multidisciplinary research to update indigenous manufacturing technology.
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PMID:Human immunization in developing countries: practical and theoretical problems and prospects. 788 21

The prevelance of IDA in industrialized countries has declined in recent decades, but there has been little change in the worldwide prevalence. IDA is currently estimated to affect more than 500 million people. Recent studies have indicated that anemia per se, the most common manifestation of iron deficiency, is less important from a public health standpoint than liabilities associated with tissue iron deficiency. The most important of the latter are an impairment in psychomotor development and cognitive function in infants and preschoolers, a deficit in work performance in adults, and an increase in the frequency of low birth weight, prematurity, and perinatal mortality in pregnancy. There have been several recent advances in combatting nutritional iron deficiency. One of the major problems has been in distinguishing iron deficiency from other causes of anemia seen epidemiologically such as malaria, HIV infection, chronic inflammation, hemoglobinopathies, and protein energy malnutrition. When combined with serum ferritin and hemoglobin determinations, the serum transferrin receptor assay is a valuable addition in epidemiologic surveys because it provides a quantitative measure of functional iron deficiency and it distinguishes true IDA from the anemia of chronic disease. The most difficult challenge is to develop effective methods of supplying iron to large segments of a population. Supplementation with iron tablets is suitable for only brief periods of need such as during pregnancy. The poor compliance with existing supplementation programs is believed to be due mainly to the gastrointestinal side effects of oral iron which can be eliminated by the use of a gastric delivery system. The most effective long-term strategy is to increase the intake of bioavailable iron in the diet. The customary approach has been to fortify a food staple such as wheat, rice, sugar, or salt, and thereby increase the iron intake of the entire population. However, because of concerns about the risk of cancer and heart disease in individuals with high iron stores, there is an increasing reluctance to supply iron to individuals who do not require it. A more effective strategy is to fortify food vehicles that are targeted to segments of the population at greatest risk of iron deficiency such as infants and school children. Because of the strong inhibitory properties of diets in regions of the world where iron deficiency is most prevalent, the use of NaFeEDTA has important advantages for food fortification.
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PMID:Iron deficiency: the global perspective. 788 26

Some 9% of deaths in Ghana are attributed to malaria, which also accounts for 30% of outpatient visits and 9% of hospital admissions. A survey conducted in four areas of Ghana revealed that the factors perceived as causing malaria included malnutrition, mosquitos, excessive heat, excessive drinking, flies, fatigue, dirty surroundings, unsafe water, bad air, and poor personal hygiene. Most adolescents had no idea how the disease was spread from person to person. The symptoms most frequently considered to be linked to malaria were yellowing of the eyeballs, chills and shivering, headache, a bitter taste, body weakness, and yellowish urine. Malaria was considered to be the most important disease in the communities of Kojo Ashong, Barekese, Barekuma and Oyereko. There was a widespread understanding that malaria adversely impacted the ability of adults to work and of children to attend school. Herbal preparations for self-medication included liquids for drinking, liquids for use as enemas, and potions for hot fomentation. Most people used the leaves of the neem tree (Adzadi rachta indica) to make such preparations. Most interviewees were aware of chloroquine used in the treatment of malaria. A few people sprayed their rooms with insecticide before going to bed in order to kill mosquitos, while others used repellent coils. Bednets were rarely used. There was little knowledge of how the transmission cycle of the parasite could be broken. One social implication of the disease is that if the breadwinner dies, the children may have to cease attending school. For Africa as a whole the annual economic burden of malaria was $ 0.8 billion in 1987; by 1995 it is expected to be $ 1.7 billion. The first step in any control program should be to educate the people about the cause and treatment of the disease. District assemblies should enact bylaws on the cleanliness of households, which inspectors should enforce.
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PMID:Socioeconomic factors in malaria control. 794 58

Although the association between nutritional status and mortality risk is obvious for extreme malnutrition, the issue is not so clear for mild to moderate undernutrition. We have investigated this association in children of 0-5 years in the rural area of Bwamanda, Zaire, where an integrated development project, with good medical facilities, has operated for 20 years. A random cluster sample of 5167 children was taken; newborn infants and immigrants were included at six quarterly survey rounds from October, 1989, until February, 1991. All surveys included clinical and anthropometric assessment of nutritional status. Deaths were recorded up to April, 1992; there were 246 deaths. Marasmus, kwashiorkor, and other causes of death were defined by the verbal autopsy method and checked against medical records kept at the central hospital and the peripheral dispensaries. As expected, we found an increased risk of death in severe malnutrition. When deaths directly attributed to marasmus or kwashiorkor were excluded, mild to moderate stunting or wasting were not associated with higher mortality in the short term (within 3 months of the previous study round) or in the long term (from 3-30 months after study entry). The commonest causes of death were malaria and anaemia. Extreme marasmus and kwashiorkor caused 16% of deaths, and are important causes of death even in this favoured area with an integrated development project. Nutritional interventions should be targeted more selectively so that children with moderate malnutrition can be protected from progression to marasmus or kwashiorkor.
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PMID:Influence of nutritional status on child mortality in rural Zaire. 810 46


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