We performed a hospital-based study to examine a hypothesis that indoor air pollution was associated with acute asthma in young children living in Kuala Lumpur City. A total of 158 children aged 1 month to 5 years hospitalized for the first time for asthma were recruited as cases. Controls were 201 children of the same age group who were hospitalized for causes other than a respiratory illness. Information was obtained from mothers using a standardized questionnaire. Univariate analysis identified two indoor pollution variables as significant factors. Sharing a bedroom with an adult smoker and exposure to mosquito coil smoke at least three nights in a week were both associated with increased risk for asthma. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that sharing a bedroom with an adult smoker (OR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.13, 3.21) and exposure to mosquito coil smoke (OR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.02, 2.93) were independent risk factors. Other factors independently associated with acute asthma were previous history of allergy, history of asthma in first-degree relatives, low birth weight, and the presence of a coughing sibling. There was no association between asthma and exposure to kerosene stove, wood stove, aerosol mosquito repellent, type of housing, or crowding. We conclude that indoor air pollution is an avoidable factor in the increasing morbidity due to asthma in children in a tropical environment.

In a case control study, 70 children consecutively hospitalized for acute ingestion of poisons were compared with 140 other hospitalized children matched for age. Children aged less than 3 years and boys were most often the victims. Univariate analysis identified Indian race, having a parent younger than 21 years, residing at present address for less than 1 year and living in a household with more than five occupants as significant risk factors. Experience of a recent stressful event in the family barely failed to reach the level of significance. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that Indian race, having a parent younger than 21 years and residing less than 1 year at the present address were independent predictors of acute poisoning. Positive interactions were noted between Indian race and duration of residence and between parental age and duration of residence. Knowledge of risk factors and their interactions may be useful in planning preventive measures against childhood poisoning.

Penyakit diare masih menjadi permasalahan utama di negara-negara berkembang termasuk di Indonesia terutama terjadi pada balita. Kelurahan Karyajaya Kota Palembang merupakan salah satu wilayah yang jumlah penderita diarenya mengalami peningkatan dari tahun ke tahun. Selain itu, masyarakat di Kelurahan Karyajaya memiliki cakupan presentase rumah yang memenuhi syarat rumah sehat yang masih rendah. Untuk itu dibutuhkan penelitian untuk menganalisis faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi kejadian diare pada balita di Kelurahan Karyajaya Kota Palembang.

genus). The highest number of genera was recorded while low tides in November (24 genera), and the lowest was on May while high tides (16 genera). The highest abundance of phytoplankton was recorded in August during high tides (2,68 x 10 7 cell.m -3 ), and the lowest was in May during high tides (6,59 x 10 5 cell.m -3 ). The diversity index (H'), the uniformity index (E), and the dominance index (D) ranged between 0,64-3; 0,15-0,71 and 0,15-0,83, respectively.

Phytoplankton have important as food-chain major component and primary production of marine environment. However, high abundance of phytoplankton could give harmful effects toward water ecosystem. Moreover,