A healthy 30-yr-old woman carrying an insect that had been caught in her living room visited the International Clinic at Severance Hospital, Seoul, in December 2007. The insect she brought was identified to be a nymph of a bedbug, Cimex lectularius, and her skin rashes looked typical bedbug's bites. Her apartment was investigated, and a dead body of a bedbug, cast skins, and hatched eggs were found in her rooms and neighbors' rooms in the same building. She was living in that apartment in Seoul for 9 months since she had moved from New Jersey, USA. We assume that the bedbugs were introduced from abroad, since there had been no report on bedbugs in Seoul for more than 2 decades at least. This is a report of a reemergence of the common bedbug, C. lectularius in Seoul, Korea.
Adult ; Animals ; *Bedbugs/anatomy & histology ; Dermatitis/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Insect Bites and Stings/*pathology ; Insecticides ; Korea/epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo define and evaluate the malaria transmission potential in the Yangtze River, following construction of the Three Gorges Reservoir.

METHODSSix villages, namely, Kaixian, Fengjie, Wanzhou, Fuling, Yubei, and Zigui were selected for investigating the malaria transmission potential in the reservoir. Transmission potential was estimated by mathematical modeling and evaluation of the local malaria situation. Factors that influenced the transmission potential were analyzed using Poisson regression analysis in combination with Grey Systematic Theory (based on evaluation by the Delphi method).

RESULTSIndirect fluorescent antibody data and the incidence of malaria in the local population were consistent with the malaria transmission potential calculated for the area. Multivariate Poisson regression analysis showed a statistically significant association between the riparian zone and the man-biting rate.

CONCLUSIONThe risk of a malaria epidemic can be forecasted using the malaria transmission potential parameters investigated here which was closely correlated with the riparian zone.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Culicidae ; physiology ; Epidemics ; prevention & control ; Housing ; Humans ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Malaria ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Rivers ; Water Resources

Allergy skin prick test and intradermal test represent one of the major tools in the diagnosis of IgE- mediated diseases like as atopic asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, food and drug allergy, and insect bite when properly performed. Skin tests are of particular importance in fields such as allergen standardization, pharmacology, and epidemiology. Even if skin tests seem easy to perform, adequate and proper interpretation requires well-trained physicians who can recognize the numerous factors that may modify the results of skin tests.
Asthma ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Diagnosis ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; Epidemiology ; Hypersensitivity ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Intradermal Tests ; Pharmacology ; Rhinitis ; Skin Tests* ; Skin*

BACKGROUND: There has been no reported paper about dermatoses of flood victims in Korea. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the distribution of dermatoses among flood victims in northern Kyonggi-do following flooding in August 1998. METHODS: One hundred eighty six patients who were flood victims were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The study results are summarized as follows: 1. Among the 186 patients, there were 57(30.6%) dermatologic patients. 2. In age distribution, the most frequent age groups were the 5th decade(35.1%), 6th decade(15.8%) and 4th decade(14.0%), amounting to 64.9% of all dermatologic patients. The ratio of male to female was 1: 2.4. 3. The distribution of common dermatoses in outpatients was superficial fungal infections(43.4%) and contact dermatitis(28.9%). 4. The distribution of dermatoses developed after the flooding was contact dermatitis(66.7%), acute urticaria(12.1%), erosion with secondary infection, impetigo, photosensitive dermatosis, insect bite and herpes zoster. And in many patients, contact dermatitis was developed within 2 days after the flooding. 5. The distribution of dermatoses recurred or aggravated after the flooding was superficial fungal infection(86.8%), seborrheic dermatitis(5.3%), aphthous stomatitis(5.3%) and herpes simplex(2.6%). CONCLUSION: The common dermatoses after the flooding were superficial fungal infection and contact dermatitis.
Age Distribution ; Coinfection ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do* ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Impetigo ; Incidence* ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Korea* ; Male ; Outpatients ; Skin Diseases*

PURPOSE: Differences in definitions of the condition, relevant triggers, and the geographical locations of study centers, cause estimates of the prevalence of anaphylaxis to vary. Recent epidemiological data indicate that the incidence of anaphylaxis is rising. METHODS: To investigate the causes and clinical features of anaphylaxis in Korean adults, factors associated with the severity of the condition, and serious outcomes, a retrospective medical record review was performed on adult patients diagnosed with anaphylaxis between 2007 and 2011 in 15 University Hospitals of South Korea. RESULTS: A total of 1,806 cases (52% male, age 16-86 years) were reported. Cutaneous symptoms (84.0%), combined with respiratory (53.9%) and/or cardiovascular (55.4%) symptoms, were the most frequent presentations. Using a recognized grading system, 1,776 cases could be classified as either mild, 340; moderate, 690; or severe, 746. Although eliciting factors varied significantly by age, gender, and regional and seasonal factors, drugs (46.5%; including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and radiocontrast media) were the most common cause of anaphylaxis, followed by foods (24.2%), insect stings (16.4%), exercise (5.9%), and unknown etiology (7.0%). All of age, multi-organ involvement, a history of allergic disease, and drug-induced anaphylaxis, were significant predictors of serious outcomes requiring hospital admission or prolongation of hospital stay. Epinephrine auto-injectors were prescribed for 7.4% of reported cases. CONCLUSIONS: The principal causes of anaphylaxis in Korean adults were drugs, food, and insect stings. Drug-associated anaphylaxis, a history of allergic disease, multi-organ involvement, and older age, were identified as predictors of serious outcomes.
Adult* ; Anaphylaxis* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Epidemiology ; Epinephrine ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Medical Records ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies* ; Seasons

Anthropophilic Culicoides were investigated in a rural community endemic for Mansonella perstans in Ijebu North area of western Nigeria between December 2003 and October 2004. Three hundred and fifty-nine adults of Culicoides fulvithorax collected by human bait in the morning were dissected for Mansonella perstans larvae, and 1.95% of infection rate was found. Seasonal abundance of C. fulvithorax was investigated by monthly biting rates, and showed that higher prevalence was observed in rainy season, with peak in September. Culicoides prevalence was positively correlated with rainfall and relative humidity, but not temperature. Human perceptions on the behavior of these biting midges were determined by interviewing 854 self-selected villagers, of which 86.5% of the interviewees confessed having experienced Culicoides bites. Between 76.5 and 99.1% of the various age groups complained body reactions to Culicoides bites. Itching was the most frequent body reaction. No interviewees associated Culicoides with transmission of any parasitic infections. The results showed need to adequately control Culicoides in the community.
Seasons ; Rural Health ; Rain ; Questionnaires ; Perception ; Nigeria/epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Mansonelliasis/*transmission ; *Mansonella/isolation & purification ; Insect Vectors/parasitology/*physiology ; Insect Bites and Stings/*epidemiology ; Humidity ; Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Child ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Ceratopogonidae/parasitology/*physiology ; Animals ; Adult ; Adolescent

17,966 new outpatients who visited the Department of Dermatology of Wonju Christian Hospital from 1985 to 1989 were analyzed statistically. The study results are summarized as follws : 1. Among the 17,966 outpatients, the total number of male patients were 8358 (46.5%) and female patients were 9608 (53.5%). 2. In age distribution, the most frequent age groups were lst decade (24.0), 2nd decade (16.5), and 3 rd decade (25.5) amounting to 66% of the total outpatients. 3. The 15 most common dermatoses were dermatophytosis, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, acne, seborrheic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, other eczema, hypopigmentary disorder, bacterial infection, psoriasis, insect bites, and herpes zoster. 4. Those dermatoses which showed increasing tendency were other eczema, hypopigmentary disorder, herpes zoster, and those of decreasing tendency were scabies, bacterial infection. psoriasis, insect bites. 5. Seasonal distribution. showed those diseases occurring most frequently during the summer season were dermatophytosis, insect bites. urticaria, acne, eczema, contact dermatitis. hypopigmentary disorder, bacterial infection. and herpes zoster. The incidence of atopic deratitis. and psoriasis were incfreased during the winter season. 6. In sexual distribution sebourrheic dermatitis. and scabies were more frequent in the males. whereas with urticaria. acne, contact dermatitis, and other eczema the females were more commonly affected. 7. In age distribution, atopic dermatitis, bacterial infection, and insect bites were the most frequent in the Ist decade. Dermatophytosis. urticaria, acne, seborrheic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, other eczema, hypopigmentary disorder, drug eruption, and psoriasis were most frequent in the 3 rd decade, with scabies in the 2nd decade, and herpes zoster in the 6th decade. 8. The distributions of dermatoses as disease groups, were eczema (23.8%), dermatophytosis (13.9%), urticaria-drug eruption (12.2%), skin appendage disorder (11.2%), and viral infection (8.1%), which constituted 69.2% of the total.
Acne Vulgaris ; Age Distribution ; Bacterial Infections ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Dermatology ; Drug Eruptions ; Eczema ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Gangwon-do* ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Male ; Outpatients ; Psoriasis ; Scabies ; Seasons ; Skin ; Skin Diseases* ; Statistics as Topic* ; Tinea ; Urticaria