Intestinal parasitic infections are common infectious diseases causing many health problems and impaired growth and physical development.. Children under five years old are the most vulnerable to infections, due to their immature immunity and feeding and exploratory behaviours. This systematic review aimed to assess the relationship between intestinal parasitic infections and undernutrition among children under 5 years old. Fifteen studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were classified as high-quality studies. Twelve parasites were reported, including Ascaris lumbricoides, Cryptosporodium spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Enterobius vermicularis, Giardia lamblia, hookworm, Hymenolepis nana, Strongyloides sterocalis, Taenia spp. and Trichuris trichuria. Ascariasis is the most reported infection, with a prevalence ranging from 10.77% in Ethiopia to 57.14% in Malaysia, and is correlated with stunting (OR 2.17 (95% CI 1.14, 4.13), p = 0.02). Giardiasis is the second most reported infection, with a prevalence ranging from 4.43% in Ethiopia to 66.33% in the Central African Republic, and is related to an increased risk of stunting (OR 2.34 (95% CI 1.07, 5.10), p = 0.03)), wasting (OR 2.90 (95% CI 1.12, 7.49, p = 0.03)), and being underweight (OR 1.53 (95% CI 1.02, 2.29, p = 0.04)). The third and fourth most prevalent infections are T. trichiura and hookworm infections. Intestinal parasitic infections can occur very early in life and cause significant growth retardation. It is important to understand the prevalence and effects of infection based on the parasite species in order to implement therapeutic interventions and prevention controls.

Breynia cernua has been used as an alternative medicine for wounds, smallpox, cervical cancer, and breast cancer. This plant is a potential source of new plant-derived drugs to cure numerous diseases for its multiple therapeutic functions. An in vitro study revealed that the methanol extract of B. cernua (stem) exhibits antioxidant activity according to DPPH and SOD methods, with IC₅₀ values of 33 and 8.13 ppm, respectively. The extract also exerts antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with minimum bactericidal concentration of 1875 ppm. Further analysis revealed that the extract with a concentration of 1–2 ppm protects erythrocytes from the ring formation stage of Plasmodium falciparum, while the extract with a concentration of 1600 ppm induced apoptosis in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. GC–MS analysis showed 45 bioactive compounds consisting of cyclic, alkyl halide, organosulfur, and organoarsenic compounds. Virtual screening via a blind docking approach was conducted to analyze the binding affinity of each metabolite against various target proteins. The results unveiled that two compounds, namely, N-[β-hydroxy-β-[4-[1-adamantyl-6,8-dichloro]quinolyl]ethyl]piperidine and 1,3-phenylene, bis(3-phenylpropenoate), demonstrated the best binding score toward four tested proteins with a binding affinity varying from −8.3 to −10.8 kcal/mol. Site-specific docking analysis showed that the two compounds showed similar binding energy with native ligands. This finding indicated that the two phenolic compounds could be novel antioxidant, antibacterial, antiplasmodial, and anticancer drugs. A thorough analysis by monitoring drug likeness and pharmacokinetics revealed that almost all the identified compounds can be considered as drugs, and they have good solubility, oral bioavailability, and synthetic accessibility. Altogether, the in vitro and in silico analysis suggested that the extract of B. cernua (stem) contains various compounds that might be correlated with its bioactivities.

As a high-burden neglected tropical disease, soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections remain a major problem in the world, especially among children under five years of age. Since young children are at high risk of being infected, STH infection can have a long-term negative impact on their life, including impaired growth and development. Stunting, a form of malnutrition in young children, has been long assumed as one of the risk factors in acquiring the STH infections. However, the studies on STH infection in children under five with stunting have been lacking, resulting in poor identification of the risk. Accordingly, we collected and reviewed existing related research articles to provide an overview of STH infection in a susceptible population of stunted children under five years of age in terms of prevalence and risk factors. There were 17 studies included in this review related to infection with Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworm, and Strongyloides stercoralis from various countries. The prevalence of STH infection in stunted children ranged from 12.5 to 56.5. Increased inflammatory markers and intestinal microbiota dysbiosis might have increased the intensity of STH infection in stunted children that caused impairment in the immune system. While the age from 2 to 5 years along with poor hygiene and sanitation has shown to be the most common risk factors of STH infections in stunted children; currently there are no studies that show direct results of stunting as a risk factor for STH infection. While stunting itself may affect the pathogenesis of STH infection, further research on stunting as a risk factor for STH infection is encouraged.

This study was performed to evaluate the health information system regarding the dengue surveillance system in Indonesia. Major obstacles to the implementation of an effective health information system regarding dengue cases in Bandung are examined, and practical suggestions on measures to overcome them are discussed. The study utilized a mixed-method research design using qualitative approaches: document analysis, key informants and focus group interviews. Thirty key informants were selected, comprised of policymakers, senior managers, and staff at the Ministry of Health. Data from documents and transcripts were evaluated through a modified Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework described by Ostrom. Through this study, we have identified several issues that hinder the effective implementation of the health information system in the case of dengue in Bandung. In the end, we propose several recommendations for reform that encompasses motivational, strategic, and structural approaches to each component of the analysis. Through evaluation of the health information system for dengue surveillance in Indonesia, we conclude that well-coordination in multi-level governance in a country as large as Indonesia is the key in the implementation of the health information system in different levels of agencies. Furthermore, the adaptability of human resources in adopting a new information system also plays an important part.

Plasmodium knowlesi, the fifth malaria-causing parasite species, is currently changing the landscape of the most dominant malaria-causing species in the Southeast Asia by becoming the emerging significant cause of malaria in the region, including in Indonesia. This study aimed to provide an overview of malaria caused by P. knowlesi in Indonesia. This study utilized secondary data from the Indonesian National Referral Malaria Laboratory from 2011 to 2020 for the analysis. Analysis on 212 samples collected over ten years identified 66 (31.1 %) cases of P. knowlesi infection, with one (0.5 %) mixed infection of P. knowlesi and P. vivax. These cases were reported in seven provinces in Kalimantan and Sumatra islands. Males were 2.23 times more likely to be at risk for malaria compared to females, and this result was statistically significant (p-value = 0.037, 95 % CI: 0.84–5.91). There was no significant association between the risk of malaria and the age groups classified as non-productive and productive (p-value = 0.535, OR = 0.42, 95 % CI: 0.12–1.53). Individuals working outdoors were not significantly more protected compared to those working indoors (p-value of 0.116, OR = 0.15, 95 % CI: 0.02–1.49). The origin of the sample was found to be the most significant factor (p-value <0.001), with individuals from Kalimantan having the highest risk for malaria caused by P. knowlesi (OR = 3.97, 95 % CI: 2.10–7.49). Two major Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan, which reported malaria cases during the period studied, exhibit a potential risk for P. knowlesi infections that is influenced by factors beyond natural hosts and vectors, such as sex, age, and occupation. Routine PCR examinations for suspected P. knowlesi infections are crucial for developing effective strategies to identify and control this simian malaria parasite.

The burden of dengue has emerged as a serious public health issue due to its impact on morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. Existing surveillance systems are inadequate to provide the necessary data for the prompt and efficient control of dengue. Passive surveillance of dengue cases may lead to underreporting and delayed mitigation responses. Improved dengue control program requires sensitive and proactive methods for early detection of dengue. We collected and reviewed existing research articles worldwide on detecting dengue virus in Aedes species larvae. Searches were conducted in PUBMED and Google Scholar, including all the studies published in English and Bahasa Indonesia. Twenty-nine studies were included in this review in terms of assay used, positivity rate, and dengue serotype detected. The presence of dengue virus in immature mosquitoes was mostly detected using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) in pooled larvae. In one study, dengue virus was detected in larvae from laboratory-infected mosquitoes using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The positivity rate of dengue virus detection ranged from 0 to 50% in field-caught larvae. Although various methods can detect the dengue virus, further research encourages the use of low-cost and less laborious methods for active surveillance of dengue in larvae.