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ANANBIOANAL - 2010
Prospects
Sunit K. Singh
Scientist, Laboratory of Neurovirology and Inflammation Biology Section of Infectious Diseases, Centre for Cellular and Molecular
Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India
N
eglected tropical diseases represent one of the most serious burdens to public
health. Many of these diseases can be treated cost-effectively, but most of
them could not attract the attention of policy makers associated with global health
policy formulations. The 13 parasitic and bacterial infections known as the neglected
tropical diseases include three soil-transmitted helminth infections (ascariasis,
hookworm infection, and trichuriasis), lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis,
dracunculiasis, schistosomiasis, Chagas’ disease, human African trypanosomiasis,
leishmaniasis, Buruli ulcer, leprosy, and trachoma. An expanded list could include
dengue fever, Japanese Encephalitis, Chikungunya, treponematoses, leptospirosis,
strongyloidiasis, foodborne trematodiases, neurocysticercosis, and scabies, as well
as other tropical infections. Polyparasitism has become very common rather than the
exception in many under developed and developing countries. It has been reported
that a large number of individuals harbor three or more parasites in remote areas
of Sub-Saharan Africa, due to lack of adequate facilities of health and hygiene. Co-
infection with malaria and HIV has recently been reported as a source of increased
severity of both of these diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Scientific literature
focused on co-infection with diverse combinations of helminths, HIV, malaria, and
tuberculosis is growing tremendously. Neglected tropical diseases have been ignored
for a long time due to the negligence of health policymakers at national, regional,
and global levels. During the past few years, several research and development
agencies have shown their interest and started supporting the programs related to
control of neglected tropical diseases. There is a need of concerted effort to face
the challenges associated with diversity of disease control approaches and health
policy structures-both nationally and internationally in controlling neglected tropical
diseases.
Pharmaceutical R & D Summit
Neglected Tropical Disease Management: Problems and
doi:10.4172/2155-9872.1000027
ANALBIOANAL-2010
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