Background Melasma is a hypermelanosis which is difficult to treat. There are several treatment options for melasma and one of them is topical therapy using 10% L-Ascorbic acid and 10% Zinc sulfate. Aim To compare the efficacy and side effects of 8 weeks 10% L-Ascorbic acid solution with 10% Zinc sulfate on melasma. Methods This is an observational study with cross sectional design and single-blind, comparing the left and right side of the faces sequentially (right-left comparison study) with each treatment 10% L-Ascorbic acid and 10% Zinc sulfate applied at night. In the morning and afternoon patients uses sunscreen SPF 30. Only new patients with melasma seen at Dermatology Polyclinic Dr M Djamil Hospital Padang from March 2012 to May 2012 were included in this study. Results 20 melasma patients were studied. Their ages range from 25-54 years. 12 (60%) had combination triggering factors. All patients had epidermal type of melasma with 65% located over the centrofacial and 35% on the malar zones. After 2 months of treatment there was significant improvement of melasma treated with 10% Zinc sulfate and 10% L-Ascorbic acid with a P value of <0.05. Minimal side effects were found with Zinc sulfate. Conclusion Improvement of melasma was noted with both topical 10% L-Ascorbic acid and 10% Zinc sulfate but minimal side effects were noted with the use of 10% Zinc sulfate.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease with a long incubation period caused by Mycobacterium leprae. The average incubation period for tuberculoid and lepromatous cases are 2-5 years and 8-12 years respectively1,2. Risk factors for leprosy includes age, sex, household contact and Bacilli Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination3. We present an asymptomatic 3 month-old infant with high immunoglobulin M titre mycobacterium leprae antibody whose mother has morbus borderline lepromatous leprosy.

Purpose: Information regarding functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in infants is currently lacking in Indonesia. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and risk factors of FGIDs in infants aged 6 weeks to 4 months in Indonesia. Methods: This cross-sectional study of 433 infants was conducted between September 2018 and February 2020. Information on FGIDs was collected using the Infant Gastrointestinal Symptom Questionnaire and the Feeding Practice and Gut Comfort Questionnaire. Adapted Rome IV criteria were used to define the FGIDs. Results: The prevalence of regurgitation was 26.3%; 16.8% of the infants presented cryingrelated symptoms and 5.5% exhibited constipation. The statistical analyses revealed that constipation was associated with sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07–7.71; p=0.043), employment of the father (OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.12–0.77; p=0.01), and education of the mother (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.07–3.51; p=0.031). Length at birth (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.55–0.99; p=0.042) was associated with constipation. Length at visit (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.76–0.91; p<0.001) was associated with regurgitation, and the weight at visit (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.35–0.96; p=0.038) was associated with crying and/or colic. A history of parental FGIDs was associated with crying-related symptoms (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.23–3.68; p=0.007). Conclusion Regurgitation, crying, and constipation are common FGIDs in infants. Some parental and infant characteristics may be predictors for FGIDs. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the clinical relevance of our findings. Understanding the determinants of FGIDs will benefit healthcare professionals and parents to improve infant’s quality of life and better manage these condition.