Introduction: Tinea imbricata (TI) outbreak poses a significant health burden among indigenous populations in rainforest regions due to their geographical isolation and poor socioeconomic conditions. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological trends, antifungal susceptibility patterns, and treatment outcomes of TI among the Bateq subtribe in Pahang, Malaysia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between July–October 2023 in five villages within the National Rainforest Park, Malaysia. Socio-demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and treatment outcomes were collected through interviews, laboratory investigations, and clinical examinations. Treatment modalities were evaluated for their effectiveness in reducing disease burden. Results: 569 individuals were surveyed, revealing a TI prevalence rate of 7.91% with children aged 15 years and below exhibiting the highest susceptibility (9.22%). Antifungal susceptibility testing of clinical isolates of Trichophyton concentricum demonstrated high sensitivity to terbinafine (GM MIC=0.144 μg/ml, GM MFC=0.198 μg/ml, p<0.05) and griseofulvin (GM MIC=1.741 μg/ml, GM MFC=4.782 μg/ml, p<0.05), while clotrimazole showed moderate activity (GM MIC=5.897 μg/ml, GM MFC=22.291 μg/ml). Fluconazole demonstrated the least potency, with no fungicidal activity observed at concentrations up to 128 μg/ml. Treatment outcomes indicated that combination therapy (terbinafine gel and oral griseofulvin) significantly outperformed terbinafine gel alone, achieving an almost complete lesion resolution (LA reduced to 0.158±0.158 cm versus 3.684±1.522 cm , p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings provide critical insights into the epidemiology and emerging drug resistance of TI in the Bateq subtribe, highlighting the importance of continued surveillance, monitoring, and adaptation of treatment strategies to combat evolving antifungal resistance patterns.

Introduction: The refeeding programme in government hospitals is aimed at improving the nutritional status of malnourished children with weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) below -2.0, using special therapeutic food. However, there is a lack of data on the nutritional status of indigenous (Orang Asli) children when they return to the community after hospital discharge. Case Presentation: A 3-year-old Temiar boy residing in a tribal village in Hulu Perak was visited to determine his nutritional status following discharge from a refeeding programme in a government hospital. He was admitted to the hospital with a weight of 10.0 kg, height of 85.5 cm and WHZ of -2.09. The boy was later discharged weighing 11.0 kg, and with height unchanged at 85.5 cm and WHZ of -0.87. During our visit to the child’s home three months after discharge, his weight was 9.5 kg, height 86.0 cm, and WHZ –2.91. Discussion: The management of the case in the hospital was based on the Malnourished Orang Asli Protocols of the hospital. Household food insecurity, feeding and care practices, unhealthy household environment and the lack of communication between hospital and community health services were all identified as risk factors for malnutrition. Conclusion: The recurrence of malnutrition in this child, after successful improvement during hospital stay, highlights the importance of identifying factors that may affect nutritional status after hospital discharge. This knowledge will be beneficial in planning specific interventions, especially for Orang Asli children, living in remote villages