Evaluation of tuberculosis surveillance in Satun Province, Thailand, July 2011

Three main tuberculosis (TB) reporting systems were operating in Thailand: notifiable disease surveillance (R506), TB registration and control in Bureau of Tuberculosis (BTB) and TB report for reimbursement in National Health Security Office (NHSO). A cross-sectional study was conducted in Satun Province in July 2011 to determine whether the three systems responded well to the objectives of TB surveillance. Patients diagnosed with TB and received anti-TB drugs at least once in 2010 from three hospitals were compared with TB cases reported in three systems. In the hospitals, 170 TB cases, including 95 new smear positive pulmonary TB cases, were reviewed. Coverage and positive predictive value were 73% and 83% for R506, 87% and 100% for BTB, and 79% and 99% for NHSO respectively. Success rate (82%) of all cases was lower than that was reported in BTB (96%). Median duration from diagnosis to reporting in R506, BTB and NHSO were six, 61 and two days respectively. All systems had sufficient budget, human resources and regular training. In addition, all systems had good capacity to achieve the major objectives of TB surveillance and their specific objectives. However, the systems had total 295 variables which resulted in high workload for reporting. Integrating three systems as one national TB reporting system was recommended to improve coverage, timeliness and success rate

Perfil epidemiológico do beribéri notificado de 2006 a 2008 no Estado do Maranhão, Brasil Epidemiological profile of reported beriberi cases in Maranhão State, Brazil, 2006-2008

O objetivo do estudo foi descrever o perfil epidemiológico dos casos e óbitos de beribéri notificados de 2006-2008 no Estado do Maranhão, Brasil. Informações foram obtidas de fichas de notificação da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Maranhão e utilizou-se o Índice Global de Moran para avaliar autocorrelação espacial. Foram notificados 1.207 casos e 40 óbitos. Regiões oeste e central mostraram forte presença de autocorrelação espacial da incidência. Ocorrência de casos e óbitos concentrou-se de maio a agosto, em homens jovens (20-40 anos). Hábito de consumir álcool e fumar esteve presente entre os óbitos; baixa renda e ocupação com atividade pesada, entre os casos. Os sintomas mais comuns foram diminuição da força, dormência e edema das pernas, dificuldade para caminhar e dor na panturrilha. O perfil dos acometidos e os sintomas, exceto edema de membros inferiores, são característicos de beribéri seco. É pertinente que estudos sobre seu ressurgimento no país sejam aprofundados.<br>This study aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of beriberi cases and related deaths reported from 2006 to 2008 in Maranhão State, Brazil. Data were obtained from beriberi notification forms at the State Health Department. The global Moran index was used to evaluate spatial auto-correlation. 1207 cases and 40 deaths were reported. The western and central regions of the State showed strong spatial auto-correlation of incidence rates. Cases and deaths were concentrated from May to August, in young men (20-40 years). Regular alcohol consumption and smoking were recorded among fatal cases. Low income and heavy labor were widespread among cases. Common symptoms were asthenia, numbness, and swollen legs, difficulty walking, and calf pain. The profile of cases and their symptoms (except swollen legs) are characteristic of dry beriberi. We recommend further studies on the resurgence of beriberi in Brazil