INTRODUCTION:Leprosy is a chronic infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Selenium, on the other hand, is a substance, which is needed for its protective role against microorganism infection.AIM:This study aims to know the association between selenium serum levels with bacteriological index.METHODS:This is an analytical cross-sectional study model. Sampling was done with consecutive sampling method in Pirngadi General Hospital, Lau Simomo Leprosy Hospital and H. Adam Malik General Hospital. Samples were taken from patients’ venous blood serum then selenium levels were measured.RESULTS:This study found 30 leprosy patients consisted of 19 patients with paucibacillary (PB) leprosy and 11 patients with multibacillary (MB) leprosy. Selenium serum levels of patients with PB leprosy (mean = 97.16 µg/dL) were found to be significantly higher than MB leprosy (mean = 77.27 µg/dL) with p = 0.008 using t-test. The negative correlation between selenium serum levels with bacterial index in patients with leprosy was also found in this study using Spearman’s rho test (r = - 0.499, p = 0.005).CONCLUSIONS:Selenium serum levels of patients with PB leprosy are higher than patients with MB leprosy, and high bacteriological index in patients with leprosy were correlated with low selenium serum levels.

Introduction: Face mask is mandatory during the Covid-19 Pandemics as personal protection and limits the virus transmission in the community. The government of Indonesia has issued regulations regarding face masks and social distancing in the community. Due to that, it is important to explore the adherence to face masks and social distancing. This study aimed to assess communities' adherence to face masks and social distancing and the associated factors in Medan.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Medan, Indonesia, in November 2020. A total of 572 residents were enrolled using a convenience - multistage sampling method from public spaces. Data were collected using direct observation.Results: Most subjects were women (55.1%) from the adults' age group (61.9%). Only 34.3% of the subjects wore face masks properly, and only 10.6% maintained social distancing. The most common face mask used was a cloth mask (25.8%). Women and older age tended to use face mask compared. The prevalence of face mask use is significantly higher with strict regulation and control (p=0.0001). We also found a correlation between the type of face mask and adherence (p=0.0001).Conclusions: We found that the adherence to face masks and social distancing was low in Medan. Therefore, it is very important to initiate interventions to foster face mask adherence in a community in Medan.

Background: Diarrhea is a condition in which feces are discharged from the bowel in loose consistency or even liquid form, and the frequency is usually more often ( usually three times or more) in one day. Non-hygienic lifestyles, such as not washing hands before consuming food and after doing activities can cause negative impact to health, particularly the occurrence of diseases that related to poor sanitation, such as diarrhea. The prevalence are more common by 10 % in rural areas compared to 7.4% in urban areas. Incidence rate in diarrhea tends to be higher in group with lower education whom work as farmer, fisherman, or labor. Objectives: This study aims to analyze the relationship of childrend`s knowledge about hand washing and diarrhea occurence. Methods: This study is an  analytic study with a cross sectional design. The data is primary data that were collected directly from respondents through questionnaire. The respondents were chosen by stratified random sampling method. Results: From data of 35 respondents, the p-value 0.005 ( p <0.05), PR value 0.364 ( 0.177 – 0.749). Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between childrend`s knowledge about hand washing with diarrhea in Panobasan village. Keywords: children's knowledge, diarrhea, hand washing     Latar Belakang: Diare adalah suatu kondisi dimana seseorang buang air besar dengan konsistensi lembek atau cair, bahkan dapat berupa air saja dan frekuensinya lebih sering (biasanya tiga kali atau lebih) dalam satu hari. Kebiasaan kurang higienis berupa tidak mencuci tangan sebelum makan atau tidak mencuci tangan setelah melakukan aktivitas yang berhubungan dengan lingkungan dapat menimbulkan dampak negatif bagi kesehatan masyarakat, terutama munculnya penyakit yang berkaitan dengan perilaku hidup bersih dan sehat yang rendah salah satunya yaitu diare. Prevalensi diare lebih banyak di pedesaan dibandingkan perkotaan, yaitu sebesar 10% di pedesaan dan 7,4 % di perkotaan. Diare cenderung lebih tinggi pada kelompok pendidikan rendah dan bekerja sebagai petani, nelayan dan buruh. Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan pengetahuan anak tentang cuci tangan dengan kejadian diare. Metode: Penelitian ini merupakan studi penelitian analitik dengan desain penelitian cross sectional, metode pengumpulan data penelitian ini adalah data primer, yaitu data yang diperoleh langsung dari sampel menggunakan kuesioner. Sampel dalam penelitian ini diperoleh dengan menggunakan cara stratified random sampling. Hasil: Dari 135 responden, hubungan pengetahuan anak tentang cuci tangan dengan kejadian diare didapatkan hasil  dengan nilai p = 0,005 (p < 0,05), dan nilai PR = 0,364 (0,177 – 0,749). Kesimpulan: Terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara pengetahauan anak tentang cuci tangan dengan kejadian diare di desa Panobasan. Kata kunci: cuci tangan, diare, pengetahuan anak

BACKGROUND:Common warts are skin diseases caused by human papillomavirus. Several treatment modalities available for common warts, two of them are electrodesiccation with curettage and application of 80% phenol solution.AIM:This study aims to compare clinical efficacy between these two modalities.MATERIAL AND METHODS:Open clinical trial was conducted at Dr Pirngadi General Hospital Medan and H. Adam Malik General Hospital Medan from February to June 2013 on 17 patients with multiple common warts. Both treatments began and applied simultaneously on the same day on each patient.RESULTS:Cure rate was higher in electrodesiccation with curettage (76.5%, 100%) compared to the application of 80% phenol solution (11.8%, 64.7%) on three weeks and six weeks of follow up. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference of common warts cure rate between electrodesiccation with curettage and application of 80% phenol solution after three weeks (p < 0.001) and six weeks (p = 0.018) of treatment.CONCLUSION:As a conclusion, electrodesiccation with curettage has higher cure rate than the application of 80% phenol solution on the treatment of common warts. Further study is needed to find out the best concentration and time interval for application of phenol solution to improve its clinical efficacy as an alternative treatment of choice for common warts.

Background: Stigma is one of many problems that hinders leprosy prevention efforts. Perceived stigma refers to the perceptions and subjective awareness of leprosy patients what the community thinks or do to themselves which can reduce quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to analyze the correlation between perceived stigma and QOL of leprosy patientsMethods: This study involved 30 leprosy patients and the baseline data were collected through interview. We assessed perceived stigma and QOL respectively by using Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC) and World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Pearson correlation test is used to analyze the collected data.Results: There was a significant correlation between perceived stigma and QOL (p=0,011; r= -0,459). The majority of research subjects were aged between 19-40 years old with male sex predominance, senior high school education, income below the city minimum wage and married status. Most of them had negative perceived stigma. Covering illness from others and discussing their illness closest people were the dominant factors affecting perceived stigma. They had ordinary QOL subjectively, not satisfied to health condition, physical domain was the most affected by Leprosy and had a good QOL.Conclusion: There was a significant correlation between perceived stigma and QOL.