The strain among caregivers of children with disabilities at the community-based rehabilitation centres in Kudat division of Sabah, Malaysia.

Introduction: The prevalence of children with disabilities (CWD) is increasing. CWD requires exceptional long-term attention, which often falls on the caregivers. Caring for a CWD affects caregivers in multiple ways, such as physical, social, personal, and financial aspects.

Ever-never heard of 'Malaysian Healthy Plate': How many people know and practice this healthy eating concept?

Introduction: The current and simpler healthy eating concept 'Malaysian Healthy Plate', was introduced in 2016. This study aims to determine the prevalence of ever-never heard, understanding, and practice of this concept and also the associated factors to never-heard of Malaysian Health Plate after three years of the implementation.

Methodology: This study utilized the data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019, a cross-sectional survey that applied two-stage stratified cluster sampling.

An occurrence of Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Wulp) (Diptera: Muscidae) from a human corpse in a high-rise building in Malaysia: a case report.

This is the first report of Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Wulp) (Diptera: Muscidae) on a human corpse discovered in a high-rise building in Malaysia. On 5 March 2008, a decomposing body of an adult female was found on the top floor of a thirteen-story building in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Her body was colonized by S.

Epidemiological and clinical features of dengue versus other acute febrile illnesses amongst patients seen at government polyclinics.

Classical dengue fever is characterized by the clinical features of fever, headache, severe myalgia and occasionally rash, which can also be caused by a number of other viral and bacterial infections. Five hundred and fifty eight patients who fulfilled the criteria of clinical diagnosis of acute dengue from 4 government outpatient polyclinics were recruited in this prospective field study. Of the 558 patients, 190 patients were categorized as acute dengue fever, 86 as recent dengue and 282 as non-dengue febrile illnesses based on the results of a number of laboratory tests.

Nosocomial nasal myiasis in an intensive care unit.

A 73-year-old Chinese man was admitted to the Accident and Emergency Premorbid Ward of a local hospital in Malaysia. The patient complained of shortness of breath with cough and was in a semi-conscious state. He was later admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital.

A comparative evaluation of dengue diagnostic tests based on single-acute serum samples for laboratory confirmation of acute dengue.

A prospective study was carried out to evaluate the sensitivity of dengue NS1 antigen-capture ELISA in comparison with dengue virus isolation, conventional RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR for laboratory confirmation of acute dengue based on single-acute serum samples. Four primary healthcare centres were involved to recruit patients with clinical diagnosis of dengue illness. Patient's demographic, epidemiological and clinical information were collected on a standardized data entry form and 5 ml of venous blood was collected upon consent.

A fatal case of chikungunya virus infection with liver involvement.

Recovery from chikungunya is previously considered universal and mortality due to the virus is rare and unusual. Findings from recent chikungunya outbreaks occurred in Reunion Island and India have since challenged the conventional view on the benign nature of the illness. Malaysia has experienced at least of 4 outbreaks of chikungunya since 1998.

Molecular epidemiology of chikungunya virus in Malaysia since its first emergence in 1998.

Malaysia experienced the first outbreak of chikungunya (CHIK) in Klang in late 1998 due to CHIK virus of Asian genotype. The CHIK virus of Asian genotype reemerged causing outbreak in Bangan Panchor, Perak in March 2006. CHIK virus of Central/East African genotype was first detected from a patient who returned from India in August 2006.

Broad reactive monoclonal antibodies for rapid identification of enteroviruses show cross-reactivity with chikungunya virus infected cells.

In the past decade, enterovirus 71 (EV71) and chikungunya (CHIK) virus have re-emerged periodically causing serious public health problems in Malaysia, since their first emergence in 1997 and 1998 respectively. This study demonstrates that CHIK virus causes similar patterns of cytopathic effect in cultured Vero cells as some enteroviruses. They also show positive cross-reaction on direct immunofluorescence staining using monoclonal antibodies meant for typing enteroviruses.

Sweet's syndrome in Crohn's colitis.

We would like to report a case involving a 38-year-old woman who presented with knee and ankle swellings 2 weeks prior to admission. There were also multiple painful oral ulcers and a few skin sores on the wrist. She also had associated diarrhoea for 2 weeks.

Performance of a commercial rapid dengue NS1 antigen immunochromatography test with reference to dengue NS1 antigen-capture ELISA.

The performance of a commercial immunochromatography test for rapid detection of dengue NS1 antigen present in serum or plasma of patients was evaluated against a commercial dengue NS1 antigen-capture ELISA. The rapid immunochromatography test gave an overall sensitivity of 90.4% with a specificity of 99.

Bacteriology of diabetic foot lesions.

Infection plays a pivotal role in enhancing a diabetic foot at risk toward amputation. Effective antibiotic therapy against the offending pathogens is an important component of treatment of diabetic foot infections. Recognition of the pathogen is always difficult as the representative deep tissue sample for culture is surrounded by ulcer surface harbouring colonies of organisms frequently labelled as skin commensals.

Neurocysticercosis an uncommon intra-cerebral infection in Malaysia.

Neurocysticercosis, infection of the central nervous system (CNS) by larvae of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium, is the commonest neuroparasitic infection in humans. However in countries as in Malaysia it poses a diagnostic problem as the disease in not seen amongst the local population; however with the arrival of immigrant workers, a number of cases have recently been diagnosed. There were 3 cases of neurocysticercosis reported in our centre over the last 5 years.

Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among AIDS patients in Hospital Kuala Lumpur, 2001.

Four hundred and six AIDS patients were recruited in this retrospective study. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among 406 AIDS patients was 208 (51.2%).

Epidemiological screening of lymphatic filariasis among immigrants using dipstick colloidal dye immunoassay.

We have recently reported that a dipstick colloidal dye immunoassay (DIA) that detect parasite antigens in human serum is sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of active infection of lymphatic filariasis. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies (RbBmCAg) labelled with a commercial dye, palanil navy blue was used to detect filarial antigenemia among Indonesian and Bangladeshi immigrant workers (N= 630) at oil palm estates at Hulu Trengganu District, Peninsular Malaysia. Microfilaremia with Brugia malayi were detected in 51 (8.

The prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis among pre-school children in Orang Asli resettlement villages in Kelantan.

A study of the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis among pre-school children aged 0 to 7 years from an Orang Asli village resettlement scheme in Gua Musang, Kelantan was undertaken. The overall prevalence of soil transmitted helminthic (STH) infections was 56.0%.

Measles--an experience in Sandakan Hospital, Sabah, 1990.

A descriptive study of 143 cases of clinically diagnosed measles in patients under the age of 12 years admitted to the Duchess of Kent Hospital, Sandakan, Sabah, during the year 1990 was carried out. The median age of the patients was one year and 13.3% of the cases were between the ages of 6 and 9 months.

Lead poisoning in childhood.

We report here a case of lead poisoning in a 20 month old girl who presented with acute encephalopathy and status epilepticus. The major clues leading to the diagnosis were the occupational family history and dense lead lines on X-ray of the long bones. She showed evidence of neurological dysfunction in the initial phase, but she improved steadily, regaining her motor power partially and her vision, although some cognitive and language deficits were already evident.