Background: Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a public health problem in Viet Nam, and studies have reported seasonal fluctuation in the occurrence of HFMD. This study sought to describe the occurrence of HFMD and its associated meteorological factors in Dak Lak province, Viet Nam. Methods: Monthly data on HFMD cases were collected from all commune health stations in Dak Lak province from 2012 through 2013. An HFMD case was defined as a brief febrile illness accompanied by a typical skin rash with or without mouth ulcers. Average temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, humidity, rainfall, evaporation, sunshine duration and wind speed were recorded monthly at five local meteorological stations throughout Dak Lak.Data were aggregated at the district level, and the association between these meteorological factors and HFMD cases were examined by Poisson regression. Results: In 2012 through 2013, there were 7128 HFMD patients in Dak Lak. The number of HFMD cases increased during the rainy season. An increased risk of HFMD was associated with higher average temperature (risk ratio and 95% confidence interval: 1.06; 1.03–1.08 per 1 °C increase), higher rainfall (1.19; 1.14–1.24 per 200 mm increase) and longer sunshine duration (1.14; 1.07–1.22 per 60 hours increase). The risk of HFMD was inversely associated with wind speed (0.77; 0.73–0.81 per 1 m/s increase). Conclusion This study suggests that there is a significant association between HFMD occurrence and climate. Temperature, rainfall, wind speed and sunshine duration could be used as meteorological predictors of HFMD occurrence in Viet Nam’s Central Highlands region. Intensified surveillance for HFMD during the rainy season is recommended.

BACKGROUND: In order to provide essential scientific evidence on the population's health status and social health determinants as well as the current capacity of the health care system in Vietnam to health policy makers and managers, Vietnam Ministry of Health, Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, and Ho Chi Minh University of Medicine and Pharmacy collaborated with Seoul National University (Korea) and conducted a health system survey in the Quoc Oai district (of Hanoi capital) that represented northern rural Vietnam. METHODS: The study design was a cross-sectional study. The survey covered different topics (more than 200 questions) and was administered in three separate questionnaires: 1) Basic information of all household members; 2) Household characteristics; and 3) Individual characteristics. Socio-demographic characteristics among the households and individuals were collected from 2,400 households sampled by multi-stage cluster sampling method: more than 200 questions. RESULTS: The household size of Quoc Oai was larger than the national average and there was no significant difference in gender composition. In addition, the proportions of pre-elderly, age 55–64, and elderly group (65 years old and over) were higher than the national population statistics. In this context, demographic transition has begun in Quoc Oai. CONCLUSION: This study design description provides the basic information about a baseline survey of a future prospective cohort (as a part of a collaborative project on strengthening the health system in Vietnam) to the prospective data user of this survey.
Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Delivery of Health Care ; Family Characteristics ; Health Policy ; Humans ; Methods ; Pharmacy ; Population Characteristics ; Population Dynamics ; Prospective Studies ; Public Health ; Seoul ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vietnam

Background: Deletion and duplication mutations of dystrophin gene make up from 70 to 75% of patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Two thirds of children with DMD inherited from the heterozygous mothers the mutated gene which is located on one of the sex chromosomes. Objective: To detect the asymptomatic carriers of dystrophin gene mutation using molecular techniques. Subject and methods: 3 DMD patients and their 9 relatives. Using techniques: DNA extraction and quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Results: Successfully detected 4 heterozygous individuals from 9 female members of three different families that have already confirmed DMD patients. Conclusion: This method could lead to a new way of prenatal diagnosis of DMD as well as other genetic disorders that are caused by deletion or duplication mutation.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy ; carrier ; quantitative PCR

Background: Vietnam is located in the endemic region of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, but no data of occult HBV infection was reported at present. Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of occult HBV infection in different ethnics of people and generations. Subjects and method: 80 voluteers with HbsAg negative from five different ethnics: Kinh, Tay, Mong, Giay and Dao in a Chino \ufffd?Vietnamses border province (Lao Cai) were enrolled in the study. After HBV-DNA was extracted, nested PCR of S gene and of Core-promoter/Pre-core region were used to detect HBV-DNA. Specifying nucleotide sequence was confirmed by direct sequencing. Results:The prevalence of occult HBV infection in population study was very high 73/80 (91,3%) by nested PCR of Core-promoter/Pre-core, significantly more sensitive than nested PCR of S gene (26,3%) (p<0,0001). The prevalence of occult HBV infection was notdifferent between ethnics of people or between children, adults. Conclusion: Occult HBV infection in Vietnamese is very common; however, nationwide further studies should be carried out to confirm this preliminary results and evaluate the impact of occult HBV infection in Vietnam.
Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ;

Background: The role of Helicobacter pylori live in digestive tract cause digestive disorder are confirmed. Objectives: To assess the relationship between seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) in children and history of digestive disorders in children and their parents. Subjects and method: In this cross-sectional study, history of digestive disorders (recurrent epigastralgy at least 3 episodes in a duration at least 3 months, confirmed either by upper endoscopy or by gastric radiography with contrast or ameloration by treatment with anti - acid) was gathered using questionnaire with additional examination of individual health book, prescription or discharge certificate of a population of 818 children <15 years old in pediatric department, Bach Mai hospital and 369 children <18 in a rural commune. Seroprevalence was determined by ELISA with cut - off at 0.18 optic density. Results:Among in - patients, seroprevalence was 52.6% (20/38) in children with digestive history, significantly higher than 32.6% (254/780) in those who were without this history (p=0.013); risk for HP infection in children with the history was 4.8 higher than that in those who were without the history [OR (95% CI): 4.79 (1.62-9.16)), while the difference in HP seroprevalence was insignificant in children whose mother or father was with or without the history (p > 0.05). Among children in the community, the difference in HP seroprevalence of 72.7% (8/11) in children with and 55.0% (250/373) in those without the history was statistically insignificant (p>0.05). However, HP seroprevalence in children whose father or mother was with the history was of 71.8% (28/39) and 70.5% (31/44), respectivly, significantly higher than 43.1 % (94/318) and 45.6% (125/274) in those whose father or mother was without the history, respectively (p < 0.05). Risk for being HP seropositive in children whose father was with the history was 3.4 folds higher than those whose father was without the history [OR (95% CI): 3.36 (1.38-7.54)] and that in children whose mother was with the history was 2.9 folds higher than in those whose mother was without the history [OR (95% CI): 2.91 (1.41-5.26)]. Conclusion: It exsisted a discrepancy in relationship between HP seroprevalence in children and history of digestive disorders in 2 groups of population in the hospital and in the community, and further studies with larger size were warranted to better clarify this relationship.
Helicobacter pylori/ pathogenicity ; Stomach/ pathology ; Duodenal Diseases/ diagnosis ; pathology ; Child

Background: There is nearly 3,5 billion people infected Helicobacter pylori in over the world. Objectives: To investigate Helicobacter pylori (HP) seroprevalence (by ELISA technique) and related risk factors (by questionnaire set) in children of different ethnics. Subjects and method: This cross - sectional study was carried out in Ban Qua, a mountainous village of a northern border province with a population of 408 children under 18 from 245 households (consisting of 781 members) with 5 ethnics. HP seroprevalence was determined by ELISA technique and risk factors by structure questionnaire. Results: HP seroprevalence in children under 18 was 26.7% without sex predominance but with significant ethnical difference: 16.1 % in H\u2019mong, 16.7% in Tay, 20.3% in Dao, 38.5% in Giay and 41.0% in Kinh (p < 0.001); and increased with age, particularly in 3 - 6 aged group, by the rate of 1-1.5%/year. The study results showed that age, HP infection in sibling, breastfeeding beyond 12 months and family history of gastro duodenal disorders were independently associated to HP infection in children. In addition, HP infection in parents and illiteracy in mothers were also significantly related to higher seropositivity in children (p<0.03 and <0.045, respectively). Conclusion: This study showed that although the rate of HP infection in minority ethnics was lower than in the majority (Kinh), but risk factors for the infection were somewhat similar to those identified in other studies in Kinh people.
Helicobacter pylori/ pathogenicity ; Child

Background: the selection of appropriate antibiotics decided success in healing stomach-duodenum lesions. Regimens were recommended over the world today in treatment of stomach-duodenal ulcers were combination ofthree drugs, including an anti-gastric acid secretion agent and two of three antibiotics were amoxicillin (Amox), clarithromycin (Clar) and metronidazole (Metro). In Vietnam, a recent study showed that 76% of HP strains resistant to Metro and 1% resistant to Clar. Objectives: to describe prevalence and trend of primary antibiotics resistance of H.pylori to metronidazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin over 10 years (1993-2002). Subjectives and Method: A retrospective study was about the susceptibility of 434 HP isolates derived from 281 children and 153 adults to Metro, Clar and Amox for 10 years (1993-2002) by using E-test. Results: no isolates resistant to Amox had been identified. Overall resistance rates of HP isolates to Metro, Clar and to both of them were 48.9%, 31.5% and 17.1% (51.7%, 28.4% and 17.6% in children and 43.7%, 36.6% and 16.3% in adults). Metro resistance rate in children aged from 10 to 18 was higher than that in adults and younger children (p<0.04). Clar resistance rate of children under 10 was lower than that of older children and adults (p<0.02). Both MICs of dual resistant isolates to Metro and Clar were higher than that of single resistant isolates (p<0.02 with Metro and p<0.01 with Clar). Conclusions: resistance rates of HP isolates to Metro, Clar and to both of them were relatively high. No isolates resistant to Amox had been identified. Antibiotics resistance rates in children were difference between the ages.
Helicobacter pylori ; Drug Resistance ; Microbial ;

Background: Helicobacter pylori (HP), the main reason caused digestive disease in many people. Objectives: To explore the relationship between seroprevalence of HP in children and the duration of breastfeeding (BF) in childhood. Subjects and method:Data on BF duration were collected, using a structured questionnaires, then analyzed by logistic regression, in three different groups: (1) 764 children aged from 6 months to 15 years admitted to or visiting a tertiary teaching hospital, (2) 369 children under 18 from a rural village in the centre and (3) 408 children under 18 from a multi - ethnic village in the mountainous area of the northern part of Vietnam. HP infection was determined by ELISA technique. Results: HP seroprevalence was of 26.0% (69/265) in children breastfed longer than 6 months, significant lower than 37.4% (308/556) in children breastfed shorter than 6 months in the first group [p<0.02, OR (95% CI): 0.63 (0.41 - 0.84)]. This rate was of 39.7% (27/68) in children breastfed longer than 24 months, significant lower than 59.1 % (178/301) in children breastfed shorter than 24 months in the second group [p=0.01, OR (95% CI): 0.46 (0.27 - 0.78)]. However, in the 3rd group of different minority ethnics from mountainous area, where living and hygiene levels were low, HP seroprevalence was of 29.7% (82/276), significant higher than 20.5% (27/132) in children breastfed shorter than 12 months [p = 0.03, OR (95% CI): 1.64 (1.00 - 2.70)]. Conclusion: Long duration of breastfeeding seemed protective against HP acquisition in Kinh children but might become a risk factor for HP infection in mountainous children.
Helicobacter pylori/ pathogenicity ; Child

Growing increase in resistance of H. pylori strains to antibiotics of choice is identified worldwide, requiring further investigating susceptible characteristics of the germ to these agents. Objectives: To assess the resistance of H. pylori individual colonies from a single biopsy to metronidazole and clarithromycin. Methods: The E - test was used to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) of these two antimicrobial drugs for ten H. pylori colonies isolated from an initial gastric biopsy culture from each of 14 adults and 14 children. Results: Among patients haboring HP strains resistant to these 2 antimicrobials, we observed heterogeneity in metronidazole resistance in 14/22 cases and in clarithromycin resistance in 3/13 cases. The number of resistant individual colonies ranged from 2/10 to 9/10 depending on subjects. Conclusions: In the same biopsy from both adults and children different colonies of H. pylori displayed different antimicrobial susceptibility patterns prior to anti - H. pylori treatment, rendering antibiogram interpretation difficult.
Helicobacter pylori, Adult, Child, Metronidazole

At Bach Mai hospital,on 824 pediatric sutbjects aged 6 months – 15 years, the infuence of previously used antibiotics on serological results of the epidemiological diagnosis of Helicobacter pylory infection was evaluated. Among 731 studied children using antibiotics, there was HP (+) in 34,6%. There was no significant relation between the use/no use of antibiotics and HP infected. serological results.There was no same relation between the moment, the frequency,the duration and the antibiotherapy use with the results of serological diagnosis of HP infection
Helicobacter pylori ; child ; Anti-Bacterial Agents