A description of influenza-like illness (ILI) sentinel surveillance in Cambodia, 2006-2008.

Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) sentinel surveillance was initiated by the Communicable Disease Control Department (CDC), Ministry of Health, Cambodia and its partners to evaluate the epidemiology of influenza and identify the circulating strains. The surveillance started in late 2006 in four sentinel sites. The objectives of this study were 1) to document the incidence of LI and confirmed influenza cases reported in the national surveillance system from 2006 to 2008, just after the system and the definition were revised, 2) to identify the strains of influenza virus, 3) to compare the major demographic and clinical characteristics between ILI patients having positive and negative tests for influenza virus.

The Mae On Project: using acupuncture for symptom relief and improved quality of life for people living with HIV and AIDS in rural Thailand.

Acupuncture in combination with antiretroviral therapies is a potentially useful treatment for HIV-related symptom relief in resource-poor settings. Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history of being used to enhance immune function. In the setting of HIV, Chinese traditional medicine allows for symptom treatment without adding extra medications to a complex drug regime.

Prescription pattern for treatment of hemorrhoids under the universal coverage policy of Thailand.

The Universal Coverage Policy (UCP) or "30 Baht Scheme" was launched in Thailand in 2001. The policy caused a cutback in the budgets of all public hospitals and health service centers. Traditional medicine was then viewed as an alternative to save costs.