The study was carried out from May 1998 to October 1999 in 341 case and 341 control subjects, matched with sex and age. The results show that there are many risk factors associated with Salmonella typhi causing the typhoid fever such as education levels, family components, living near a discharged typhoid fever patient, near a rubbish heap, drinking water without boiling, eating at road stalls... in the univariate analyzed process with Odds Ratio >1 and P<0.05. However, eating raw vegetable, living near a discharged typhoid fever patient, and living near a rubbish heap were risk factors go into the multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis.
Typhoid Fever ; Risk Factors

Background: In Vietnam, Dengue Fever/Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DF/DHF) is one of ten contagious diseases causing epidemics with the highest prevalence.\r\n', u'Objectives: To describe some characteristics of DF/DHF epidemic in Khanhhoa province in 2005. \r\n', u'Subjects and methods: The descriptive study based on available data obtained from the surveillance reporting system.\r\n', u'Results: Total reported cases were: 5.365 (morbidity rate = 469.58 per 100.000) and 4 deaths (CFR = 0,074%).446 of 1.661 Mac Elisa tested cases were positives (positively = 26.9%). The positive cases in male were higher than that in female. Almost all of the positive cases were less than 15 years of age. Virus serotype D1 and D2 were isolated in the epidemic. 5 of 7 districts (except 2 mountainous districts) had outbreaks. The epidemic started in April and stopped in December. Ninhhoa district was the first location of the outbreak and Vanninh district was the last one. Geographical distribution of the epidemic was as follows: costal communes=54.6%, delta communes = 30.3%, urban communes =15.1%. The epidemic level was medium (>20% - <50% of communes having the epidemic). "Pilot intervention communes" had 4 times the higher risk of DF/DHF than "non pilot intervention communes". \r\n', u'Conclusions: IEC activities for preventing DF/DHF should be strengthened. For maintaining the low mosquito and breutau index, we need routine preventive actions. Authorities need to consider and to consolidate the activities of Pilot intervention communes. Coastal communes should be supplied with running water. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'
dengue fever/dengue haemorrhagic fever ; epidemic

Background: Child health care practices in the context of households and community is an important factor to improving the health of children. Some indexes were proposed by the World Health Organization to evaluate these practices. Objectives: To describe the knowledge and practice of pregnant women, under-5-year-old children\u2019s health care and assess the application of the survey toolkit in evaluating various indexes of healthcare practice at family and community levels. Subjects and method: By employing a structured interview, this cross-sectional survey has been conducted in Tu Liem district - Hanoi city and Tien Hai district \u2013 Thai Binh province. 120 mothers of under-5-year-old children participated in the survey. Results:98% of mothers had at least 3 antenatal visits during pregnancy. The rate of complete tetanus vaccination reached 43.3% in Tu Liem and 65% in Tien Hai. Prevalence of infant with low birth weight for age accounted for 8.3% in both districts. The percentage of children given complementary feeding at age of 6 to 9 months as the National Nutrition Program recommendations was only 30%. 65.7% and 68.5% of under-2-year-old children in Tu Liem and Tien Hai were breastfed within the first 30 minutes after delivery. There were a small proportion of mothers who gave complementary food either too early or too late, 8.3% and 8.4% in Tu Liem, 6.7% and 6.6% in Tien Hai, respectively. More than 90% of children were given normal feeding as usual during last their illness, but only 50% of children were given more fluid than usual. 98.2% of mothers knew 2 signs to immediately bring the child to health facilities. The most common injuries in under-5-year-old children were animal bites (62.5%) and falling (31.3%), however only 62.5% of mothers knew at least two measures of injury prevention. Conclusion: The toolkit for collecting data of practical index assessment can be applied at communes.
child health care ; practice ; knowledge

Background: Dengue Fever/Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DF/DHF) has emerged as one of the most important public health concerns in Viet Nam in recent years. Key breeding containers plays an important role in driving dengue vector control in the public. Objectives: The research was conducted to discover the dengue situation, its vectors and key containers to make relevant recommendations in reducing effectively the vector population. Subjects and methods: Two hundred households in two communes of Nam Dinh province (100 in each studied commune) were selected randomly. Vectors collected from the field were identified using mosquito key. The number of dengue larvae and mosquitoes were directly counted or adjustment methods were used to estimate the true number in each type of water storage facility. Results: In Minh Thuan commune, Ae. albopictus larvae were mainly concentrated in jars (49%) and discards (59%), most of Ae. aegypti was found in cement tanks with a volume more than 500L (72%). In Trung Dong commune, larvae of Ae. albopictus concentrated in jars (40%) and discards (25%) and aquariums (15%), while most of the Ae. aegypti larvae was discovered in cement tanks with volumes more than 500L (86%). Mosquito density index of Ae. albopictus in Trung Dong and Minh Thuan communes was 0.56 and 0.38, respectively. The Aedes larvae, houses for larvae and Breteau index were nearly at the threshold of dengue epidemic occurrence for Ae. aegypti and over a certain threshold for Ae. albopictus. Some recommendations were provided to help reduce the dengue vectors. Conclusion: Investigation of key mosquito larvae in water containers was useful in driving the effective dengue vector control. Further studies are required to evaluate the impact and methods to manage water containers in the local area.
Dengue fever ; mosquito ; vector control

Background: According to WHO, there are 5 million deaths from kinds of injury a year in the world, of which 875000 deaths occur in children under 18 years old. Injury leads to 40000 deaths which account for 10.7% deaths due to all other causes a year in VietNam. Objective: To show conclusions of the situation of child injury, recommendations for prevention of child injury and methods in order to enhance emergency activity in Vietnam. Subjects and method: The authors collected information about all patients who had emergencies due to injury at Viet Duc hospital, from March 26th 2006 to Octorber 26th 2006. However, supervised cases were the patients under 18 years old who were examined and treated at the Department of Emergency. Results: During the period of study, 2536 patients under 18 years old were examined for injury, of which death and coming back home for death were 83 cases (3.27%). 974 children had emergency resulted from injury: male was more than female: 697 verus 227. The leading causes of child injury were fall and traffic accident, respetively 34% and 60%. The most common traumas were traumatic brain injury (45%), limbs injury (41%). Although most of cases had first aid at the hospitals in district or province level, the rate of non-first aid cases was high (34%). Conclusion: Child injury is a leading cause of child death in hospitals. Methods for prevention of child injury should focus on educating and propagandizing to minimize injuries caused by traffic accident and fall.
Wounds and Injuries ; Child

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is commonly encountered in clinical practice, has become increasingly prevalent in Asia in recent years. Definitive diagnosis of GERD requires upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and ambulatory pH monitoring and is therefore challenging. Endoscopic lesions are usually not incorporated into the diagnostic criteria, and pH monitoring is expensive, complicated, and uncomfortable for patients. Studies have investigated novel methods for diagnosis of GERD. Mucosal integrity, evaluated by mucosal admittance or impedance, is impaired in GERD owing to microscopic epithelial changes. Measurement of mucosal integrity is simple and can be performed endoscopically. Mucosal impedance has been investigated as a method to differentiate between GERD, non-GERD, and eosinophilic esophagitis, and mucosal admittance provides evidence to support diagnosis of GERD. Further research on these novel techniques is warranted to incorporate these into the diagnostic modalities used for GERD.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is commonly encountered in clinical practice, has become increasingly prevalent in Asia in recent years. Definitive diagnosis of GERD requires upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and ambulatory pH monitoring and is therefore challenging. Endoscopic lesions are usually not incorporated into the diagnostic criteria, and pH monitoring is expensive, complicated, and uncomfortable for patients. Studies have investigated novel methods for diagnosis of GERD. Mucosal integrity, evaluated by mucosal admittance or impedance, is impaired in GERD owing to microscopic epithelial changes. Measurement of mucosal integrity is simple and can be performed endoscopically. Mucosal impedance has been investigated as a method to differentiate between GERD, non-GERD, and eosinophilic esophagitis, and mucosal admittance provides evidence to support diagnosis of GERD. Further research on these novel techniques is warranted to incorporate these into the diagnostic modalities used for GERD.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is commonly encountered in clinical practice, has become increasingly prevalent in Asia in recent years. Definitive diagnosis of GERD requires upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and ambulatory pH monitoring and is therefore challenging. Endoscopic lesions are usually not incorporated into the diagnostic criteria, and pH monitoring is expensive, complicated, and uncomfortable for patients. Studies have investigated novel methods for diagnosis of GERD. Mucosal integrity, evaluated by mucosal admittance or impedance, is impaired in GERD owing to microscopic epithelial changes. Measurement of mucosal integrity is simple and can be performed endoscopically. Mucosal impedance has been investigated as a method to differentiate between GERD, non-GERD, and eosinophilic esophagitis, and mucosal admittance provides evidence to support diagnosis of GERD. Further research on these novel techniques is warranted to incorporate these into the diagnostic modalities used for GERD.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is commonly encountered in clinical practice, has become increasingly prevalent in Asia in recent years. Definitive diagnosis of GERD requires upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and ambulatory pH monitoring and is therefore challenging. Endoscopic lesions are usually not incorporated into the diagnostic criteria, and pH monitoring is expensive, complicated, and uncomfortable for patients. Studies have investigated novel methods for diagnosis of GERD. Mucosal integrity, evaluated by mucosal admittance or impedance, is impaired in GERD owing to microscopic epithelial changes. Measurement of mucosal integrity is simple and can be performed endoscopically. Mucosal impedance has been investigated as a method to differentiate between GERD, non-GERD, and eosinophilic esophagitis, and mucosal admittance provides evidence to support diagnosis of GERD. Further research on these novel techniques is warranted to incorporate these into the diagnostic modalities used for GERD.