Prevalence and risk factors for iron deficiency in Kelantanese pre-school children.

Introduction: To determine the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in Kelantanese pre-school children and to identify risk factors that best predict the presence of ID.

Methods: Children (aged eight to 26 months) who attended eight primary health clinics in the district of Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, from September to November 1999, were invited to participate in the study. Parents were interviewed for potential risk factors of ID and blood was taken for the analysis of haemoglobin (HB), mean corpuscular volume and serum ferritin (SF) level after obtaining a verbal consent.

Herpes zoster in children with cancer.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and outcome of herpes zoster hospitalised children with cancer in Kota Baru. It was a retrospective review from January 1994 to December 1998. The diagnosis of herpes zoster was a clinical one.