Asymptomatic malaria, growth status, and anaemia among children in Lao People's Democratic Republic: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Asymptomatic malaria can be observed in both stable endemic areas and unstable transmission areas. However, although much attention has been given to acute malaria infections, relatively little attention has been paid to asymptomatic malaria. Nonetheless, because the asymptomatic host serves as a reservoir for the malaria parasite, asymptomatic malaria is now recognized as an important obstacle to malaria elimination.

Rapid identification of paragonimiasis foci by lay informants in Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Background: Paragonimiasis is a food-borne trematodiasis leading to lung disease. Worldwide, an estimated 21 million people are infected. Foci of ongoing transmission remain often unnoticed.

Improving tuberculosis case detection rate with a lay informant questionnaire: an experience from the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Problem: In many countries, the tuberculosis (TB) annual case detection rate is below the target of 70%. In the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 2005, it did not exceed 55%

Approach: The DOTS strategy promotes passive case detection of TB. In order to increase the detection rate, we validated a questionnaire targeting lay informants at village level to notify patients with chronic cough and assessed the relevance for TB case-finding.