China ; epidemiology ; Communicable Diseases ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Female ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Rabies ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; epidemiology ; mortality

OBJECTIVETo analyze the mortality and the constitution of total deaths of infectious disease, maternal and perinatal diseases, nutritional deficiencies and their trends in China, 1973-2005.

METHODSThe following data collected from three national retrospective sampling surveys of death causes were used: 1973-1975 nation-wide cancer mortality survey for person years of approximately 2 513 949 310; 1990-1992 nation-wide cancer mortality survey for person years of approximately 335 213 493; 2004 - 2005 the 3rd national retrospective sampling survey of death cause for person years of approximately 142 660 482 by three age groups (0-, 15- and 60-). Based on the data, the crude death rates of ages, genders and diseases were calculated. The standardized death rates were calculated using the population census data of 2000.

RESULTSThe total number of deaths caused by infectious diseases, maternal and perinatal diseases, and nutritional deficiencies were 4 913 521, 284 811 and 47 161 in 1973-1975, 1990-1992 and 2004-2005, respectively; the crude death rates were 195.45, 84.96, 33.06 per 100 000, and the standardized death rates were 158.71, 70.76, 27.98 per 100 000. Total number of deaths caused by the above diseases in urban and rural areas were 11 752 and 35 409 during 2004 - 2005, respectively; the crude death rates were 24.69 and 37.35 per 100 000, and the standardized death rates were 19.62 and 32.12 per 100 000. There were 26 176 deaths due to the above diseases in male and 20 985 in female; the crude death rates were 35.87 and 30.11 per 100 000; the standardized death rates were 35.23 and 26.65 per 100 000. The number of deaths reported in different regions were 13 286, 13 922 and 19 953 in eastern, central and western areas respectively; the crude death rates were 25.28, 27.97 and 49.48 deaths per 100 000; the standardized death rates were 21.33, 28.10 and 45.98 per 100 000. The top three causes of death were pneumonia, tuberculosis and virus hepatitis, and the case numbers were 14 265, 8537 and 5771, respectively. The death rates were 10.00, 5.98 and 4.05 per 100 000, the standardized death rates were 8.88, 5.46 and 3.74 per 100 000. The percentage of total deaths (868 484 cases) of infectious diseases, maternal and perinatal diseases, and nutritional deficiencies was 5.43%, which was decreased 80.52% from 1973 - 1975 (27.87%, 4 913 521/17 629 350).

CONCLUSIONSThe mortality of infectious diseases, maternal and perinatal diseases, and nutritional deficiencies were generally consistent with long-term decreasing trends observed, the mortality in urban area was greater than that in rural area, the rate in male was greater than that in female, the rate in western region was greater than that in central and eastern regions.

Cause of Death ; China ; epidemiology ; Communicable Diseases ; mortality ; Female ; Humans ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Malnutrition ; mortality ; Maternal Mortality

The survey methods for confirming the epidemicity and identifying the possible causes of the cancer epidemic can be different from those for infectious diseases. The procedure for confirming whether the outbreak is epidemic or not is quite different. Household survey for identifying cancer cases and residents actually living at the area should be done. Hospital survey for medical record review should be performed to identify all cancer cases among the residents of the outbreak area and confirming the final diagnoses of the cancer cases. Comparing the level of cancer incidence or mortality with other areas can be done by using poison distribution, or calculating SIR (standard Incidence Ratio) from cumulative incidence rates. Case-control study can be conducted to identify the etiologic factors of the cancer epidemic and to establish strategy for preventing further recurrence of the outbreak.
Case-Control Studies ; Communicable Diseases ; Surveys and Questionnaires* ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiology ; Family Characteristics ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: Despite the decline in tuberculosis (TB) incidence and mortality rates in the Republic of Korea through a national TB control program, TB remains one of the most critical infectious diseases in Korean children. We investigated the trends and research areas of published articles on TB in Korean children and adolescents. METHODS: In 6 Korean and overseas databases, we searched titles and abstracts including “tuberculo*” or “TB,” “child*” or “adolescen*” or “neonat*” or “infant*” or “pediatric*,” and “korea*.” The publication type, publication year, research areas, journal title, and research subjects were analyzed. RESULTS: Out of the 257 searched documents, 120 papers were included in the analysis. Of these, 82 were original articles (68.3%), 33 case reports (27.5%), 4 review articles (3.3%), and 1 guideline (0.8%). In the original articles, the most common subject of studies was the clinical characteristics of patients with TB (36.6%), followed by diagnostics (29.3%), contact investigations (9.8%), epidemiology (6.1%), treatment (4.9%), vaccine (3.6%), latent TB infection (3.6%), complications (3.6%), and surveys on perception of TB (2.4%). From 1962, 4 articles were published in the 1960s, 10 articles in the 1970s, 11 articles in the 1980s, 22 articles in the 1990s, 26 articles in the 2000s, and 47 articles since 2010. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of research on TB in Korean children has increased over the past 5 decades; however, it has mainly focused on the clinical characteristics and diagnostics. Research in different areas, such as treatment and vaccine, is needed in the future.
Adolescent ; Child ; Communicable Diseases ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mortality ; Publications ; Republic of Korea ; Research Subjects ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: Pertussis is a highly communicable infectious disease in children with high mortality, especially in young infants. The incidence of pertussis in South Korea has decreased to about 10 cases a year in late '90s. Doubting previously reported incidences of pertussis, we designed this study to establish exact epidemiology and a diagnostic basis of pertussis. METHODS: From Mar. 2000 to Mar. 2001, polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and cultures of nasopharyngeal aspirates were taken from 49 patients who were clinically suspected of pertussis in Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital. RESULTS:Among 49 patients suspected of pertussis, 10 cases showed positive results by PCR method. Four out of those 10 cases were positive in culture. The peak outbreak was noticed in the spring(Mar.-May) and the autumn(Sep.-Nov.). The mean age of the patients was 3.6 months. Eight of the 10 cases which were PCR positive results proved not to be immunized against pertussis. CONCLUSION: Most of the pertussis patients in our study were diagnosed as bronchiolitis, pneumonia or bronchitis at the beginning of the disease and only a few patients showed typical clinical manifestations of pertussis, including whooping. When the above results are taken together, we suggest the possibility that the actual prevalence of pertussis in South Korea might be higher than that of previous reports. The importance of pertussis screen tests should be emphasized in children with severe coughs.
Bronchiolitis ; Bronchitis ; Child* ; Communicable Diseases ; Cough ; Epidemiology ; Heart ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Korea ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Whooping Cough*

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a frequent comorbid condition associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Pneumonia is the most common infectious disease condition. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the impact of pneumonia in patients with COPD. We will evaluate the epidemiology and factors associated with pneumonia. We are discussing the clinical characteristics of COPD that may favor the development of infections conditions such as pneumonia. Over the last 10 years, there is an increased evidence that COPD patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids are at increased risk to develp pneumonia. We will review the avaialbe information as well as the possible mechanism for this events. We also discuss the impact of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in the prevention of pneumonia in COPD patients.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Communicable Diseases ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Mortality ; Pneumonia* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Vaccination ; Vaccines

This article evaluates the overall current disease burden of North Korea through the recent databases of international organizations. It is notable that North Korea as a nation is exhibiting a relatively low burden from deaths and that there is greater burden from deaths caused by non-communicable diseases than from those caused by communicable diseases and malnutrition. However, the absolute magnitude of problems from communicable diseases like TB and from child malnutrition, which will increase the disease burden in the future, remains great. North Korea, which needs to handle both communicable and nutritional conditions, and non-communicable diseases, whose burden is ever more increasing in the nation, can now be understood as a country with the 'double-burden' of disease.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child Nutrition Disorders/epidemiology ; Child, Preschool ; Communicable Diseases/epidemiology/*mortality ; Databases, Factual ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Tuberculosis/epidemiology/mortality ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Acinetobacter baumannii is increasingly recognized as an important cause of nosocomial infection, especially in neonatal intensive care units. But little is known about the clinical significance and hospital epidemiology of Acinetobacter species other than A. baumannii. The objective of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics and epidemiology of septicemia due to Acinetobacter species other than A. baumannii. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 11 cases of blood culture proven nosocomial infection which occured in our neonatal intensive care unit from 4th to 24th, February, 2004. To establish epidemiological analysis, we performed environmental cultures and an antibiogram was obtained from susceptability tests of isolated Acinetobacter species. RESULTS: Clinical manifestations including fever, poor feeding, abdominal distension, diarrhea, bloody stool passage, vomiting, tachypnea and apnea were similar to other infectious diseases. Benign clinical courses were compared with poor prognose, including a high mortality rate in septicemia due to A. baumannii. The major predisposing factor among our patients was the presence of a peripheral intravascular catheter. Antibiogram was similar, but surveillance cultures of environmental specimens failed to identify the source of infection. CONCLUSION: Acinetobacter species other than A. baumannii were often considered relatively avirulent bacteria, but could be pathologic organisms if cultured in patients with clinical symptoms.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; Acinetobacter* ; Apnea ; Bacteria ; Catheters ; Causality ; Communicable Diseases ; Cross Infection ; Diarrhea ; Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemiology ; Fever ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Intensive Care, Neonatal* ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis* ; Tachypnea ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Brain abscess is a important infectious disease of the central nervous system, although the mortality has been reduced due to new antibiotics therapy and improved imaging techniques. MATERIALS amp; METHODS: Over a period of 17 years, from March 1986 to Feburary 2003, 110 patients were identified as having brain abscess at the Severance Hospital. Based on medical records, we reviewed these cases and investigated retrospectively the epidemiology, clinical findings, therapeutic modalities and prognostic factors of brain abscess. RESULTS: There were 78 males and 32 females, and the mean age was 34.4 years. The most common location of brain abscess was the parietal lobe (24.5%), followed by temporal (20.9%) and frontal lobes (20.0%). Gram positive cocci were most frequently isolated as the causative microorganism. Tuberculous brain abscess were diagnosed in 6 (8.8%) cases. The common predisposing conditions were neurosurgery (21.8%), otitis media (10%) and congenital heart disease (8.2%). Headache (63.6%), fever (55.5%) and focal neurologic deficits (51.8%) were the common symptoms. Aspiration or open drainage was performed in 77 cases (70.0%), and excision was performed in 17 cases(15.5%). Thirty five (31.9%) patients had neurologic sequelae after treatment, and the mortality rate was 11.8%. Factors influencing mortality of brain abscess were mental status and multiple abscesses. CONCLUSION: Brain abscess is still a critical infectious disease of the central nervous system with high mortality and morbidity in Korea. Active surgical procedures including aspiration, open drainage or excision, as well as antibiotic therapy, are needed for the proper management.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Brain Abscess* ; Brain* ; Central Nervous System ; Communicable Diseases ; Drainage ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Fever ; Frontal Lobe ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Headache ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Neurosurgery ; Otitis Media ; Parietal Lobe ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Brain abscess is a important infectious disease of the central nervous system, although the mortality has been reduced due to new antibiotics therapy and improved imaging techniques. MATERIALS amp; METHODS: Over a period of 17 years, from March 1986 to Feburary 2003, 110 patients were identified as having brain abscess at the Severance Hospital. Based on medical records, we reviewed these cases and investigated retrospectively the epidemiology, clinical findings, therapeutic modalities and prognostic factors of brain abscess. RESULTS: There were 78 males and 32 females, and the mean age was 34.4 years. The most common location of brain abscess was the parietal lobe (24.5%), followed by temporal (20.9%) and frontal lobes (20.0%). Gram positive cocci were most frequently isolated as the causative microorganism. Tuberculous brain abscess were diagnosed in 6 (8.8%) cases. The common predisposing conditions were neurosurgery (21.8%), otitis media (10%) and congenital heart disease (8.2%). Headache (63.6%), fever (55.5%) and focal neurologic deficits (51.8%) were the common symptoms. Aspiration or open drainage was performed in 77 cases (70.0%), and excision was performed in 17 cases(15.5%). Thirty five (31.9%) patients had neurologic sequelae after treatment, and the mortality rate was 11.8%. Factors influencing mortality of brain abscess were mental status and multiple abscesses. CONCLUSION: Brain abscess is still a critical infectious disease of the central nervous system with high mortality and morbidity in Korea. Active surgical procedures including aspiration, open drainage or excision, as well as antibiotic therapy, are needed for the proper management.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Brain Abscess* ; Brain* ; Central Nervous System ; Communicable Diseases ; Drainage ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Fever ; Frontal Lobe ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Headache ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Neurosurgery ; Otitis Media ; Parietal Lobe ; Retrospective Studies