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Abstract Background This study aims to assess the situation of communicable diseases under national surveillance in the Cyclone Nargis-affected areas in Myanmar (Burma) before and after the incident. Methods Monthly data during 2007, 2008 and 2009 from the routine reporting system for disease surveillance of the Myanmar Ministry of Health (MMOH) were reviewed and compared with weekly reporting from the Early Warning and Rapid Response (EWAR) system. Data from some UN agencies, NGOs and Tri-Partite Core Group (TCG) periodic reviews were also extracted for comparisons with indicators from Sphere and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. Results Compared to 2007 and 2009, large and atypical increases in diarrheal disease and especially dysentery cases occurred in 2008 following Cyclone Nargis. A seasonal increase in ARI reached levels higher than usual in the months of 2008 post-Nargis. The number of malaria cases post-Nargis also increased, but it was less clear if this reflected normal seasonal patterns or was specifically associated with the disaster event. There was no significant change in the occurrence of other communicable diseases in Nargis-affected areas. Except for a small decrease in mortality for diarrheal diseases and ARI in 2008 in Nargis-affected areas, population-based mortality rates for all other communicable diseases showed no significant change in 2008 in these areas, compared to 2007 and 2009. Tuberculosis control programs reached their targets of 70% case detection and 85% treatment success rates in 2007 and 2008. Vaccination coverage rates for DPT 3rd dose and measles remained at high though measles coverage still did not reach the Sphere target of 95% even by 2009. Sanitary latrine coverage in the Nargis-affected area dropped sharply to 50% in the months of 2008 following the incident but then rose to 72% in 2009. Conclusion While the incidence of diarrhea, dysentery and ARI increased post-Nargis in areas affected by the incident, the incidence rate for other diseases and mortality rates did not increase, and normal disease patterns resumed by 2009. This suggests that health services as well as prevention and control measures provided to the Nargis-affected population mitigated what could have been a far more severe health impact.

Foreign body injection into the penile shaft, in the mistaken belief that it could increase the size, is not uncommon among Thai males. Paraffin, oil, and other materials had been injected into the penile skin and predictably followed by a lot of complications. Foreign body granuloma, disfigurement, chronic and unhealed ulcer, painful erection, and the inability to achieve sexual activities are those following complications. In the severe cases, even though the complete resection of the skin and all of the infiltrated tissue was meticulously performed, some foreign bodies had to be left since they had incorporated into either the corpus cavernosum or corpus spongiosum. Durable resurfacing skin can't be perfectly achieved by skin grafting in these situations. Between 1996 and 2002, 31 patients with penile paraffinoma have been treated using bilateral scrotal flaps. Both functional and cosmetic goals without any major complications were achieved in all of the patients.

Between 1992 and 2002, 46 patients who underwent standard superficial parotidectomy with a superficial muscoloaponeurotic system (SMAS) preservation technique were included in a retrospective study. Twenty-six patients were evaluated by questionnaire for subjective symptoms of gustatory sweating and flushing as well as satisfaction with the aesthetic appearance of their cheek. Six of twenty-six patients (23.1%) complained of symptoms of Frey's syndrome. Seven of twenty-six patients (26.9%) demonstrated a positive Minor's starch iodine test. By this technique the incidence of Frey's syndrome is substantially reduced from 48% by subjective review and 72% by objective measurement reported in the previous study by the same group of surgeons without using the SMAS preservation technique. This study supports the role of the SMAS flap in preventing Frey's syndrome following standard superficial parotidectomy.