Neglected tropical diseases

Some sicknesses are called neglected.

These sicknesses happen in warm lands. They can come from tiny bugs or worms.

Many people in poor areas get sick. These germs can make people feel very bad. They can even cause death.

Some medicines are very cheap.

They can help children get well. Big groups of people give these medicines away for free.

It is hard to help everyone. Many people live far away from doctors. Some people feel shy about getting help.

Helping people is a big job. We can work together to make them healthy. Do you want to learn more?

Some sicknesses are called neglected tropical diseases. These are infections found in warm lands. They affect more than 1.4 billion people. This includes over 500 million children.

Many of these people live in poor areas. They live in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Many different things cause these sicknesses. They can come from bacteria. They can come from viruses. Some are caused by tiny bugs called protozoa. Others come from worms or mites.

These diseases are called "neglected" for a few reasons. They often do not get much money for research. Big groups focus on other sicknesses like malaria. Also, some of these germs stay hidden for a long time. This makes them hard to notice.

Some medicines for these sicknesses are very cheap. One medicine for schistosomiasis costs about $0.20 per child each year. Some companies even give these drugs away for free. This helps many people get well.

Neglected tropical diseases, or NTDs, are a large group of infections. They are common in warm, tropical regions around the world. These diseases affect people in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Most people who get them live in low-income areas. They affect more than 1.4 billion people globally. This includes more than 500 million children.

These illnesses are called "neglected" because they do not get much attention. Most global health money goes to the "big three" diseases: HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Many different types of tiny germs cause these diseases. Some are caused by bacteria, which are very small living cells. Others come from viruses or protozoa, which are even smaller organisms. Some NTDs are even caused by worms, called helminths, or tiny mites called acarines.

For example, Buruli ulcer is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium ulcerans. This bacterium makes a toxin that can destroy body tissue.

Other diseases, like Chagas disease, are caused by protozoa. These germs can stay hidden in the body for a long time. This makes the diseases hard to notice or study.

Scientists and health groups have worked to understand these diseases for many years. In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a big report on them. The WHO now prioritizes twenty different diseases. In 2017, they added new ones like scabies and snakebite envenomation to their list.

Researchers also look at how stigma affects people. Stigma is when people feel ashamed of a sickness. In the 1960s, there was only about one mention of stigma in research papers each year. By 2006, that number grew to 458.

Helping people with NTDs can be done with real numbers and tools. Some medicines are very cheap to make. For instance, the medicine praziquantel costs only about $0.20 per child each year.

However, controlling these diseases needs a lot of money. In 2010, experts said it would cost between $2 billion and $3 billion to help. Many companies help by donating their medicine for free. The Mectizan Donation Program has given away over 1.8 billion tablets of ivermectin.

Even in wealthy countries, these diseases can still be found. In the United States, at least 12 million people have neglected parasitic infections. These often affect the poorest people in society.

Some infections, like toxocariasis, happen in the U.S. at the same rate as in Nigeria. In Europe, these diseases are often found in eastern and southern areas. Migration can also bring diseases like Chagas disease to new places.

Understanding these patterns helps doctors provide better care for everyone.

Neglected tropical diseases, or NTDs, are a diverse group of infections. They primarily affect low-income populations in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. These diseases are categorized as "neglected" because they receive less research and treatment funding than the "big three" infectious diseases: HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. In sub-Saharan Africa, the collective impact of NTDs is comparable to the impact of malaria and tuberculosis. These infections can also make HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis more deadly through co-infection.

NTDs are caused by many different types of pathogens. These include viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and mites called acarines. Many NTDs are also caused by parasitic worms known as helminths. For example, Buruli ulcer is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans. This bacterium produces a toxin called mycolactone, which destroys body tissue.

Other diseases, such as Chagas disease, are caused by protozoa. Because many of these pathogens have long incubation periods, the diseases can remain latent or asymptomatic for a long time. This makes it difficult for doctors to connect a person's symptoms to the actual cause.

There are several distinct categories of pathogens that drive these diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes twenty different NTDs. These include protozoan infections like leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. Bacterial infections include leprosy, trachoma, and Buruli ulcer. Helminth infections involve various worms, such as schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis.

There are also viral infections like dengue and rabies, as well as fungal infections and ectoparasites like scabies. In 2017, the WHO added snakebite envenomation and deep mycoses to its prioritized list.

Global health organizations have worked to change how these diseases are managed. The WHO maintains a prioritized list of diseases to focus on. In the past, many NTDs were overlooked because they primarily affect the poorest countries and lack prominent cultural figures to champion them. Research has also recently begun to address social stigma. Stigma occurs when people feel shame regarding a disease, which can prevent them from seeking help. In the 1960s, there was only about one citation per year related to social stigma in research. By 2006, that number rose to 458 citations.

Economic factors play a major role in the prevalence of NTDs. Developing economies lose billions of dollars every year due to these diseases. In 2013, NTDs resulted in 142,000 deaths, which is a decrease from 204,000 deaths in 1990. While some treatments are very inexpensive, such as praziquantel which costs $0.20 per child per year, large-scale control requires significant investment. In 2010, it was estimated that controlling these diseases would require $2 billion to $3 billion over five to seven years.

Because treating these diseases is often not seen as profitable, the pharmaceutical industry may view research as highly risky. Between 1975 and 1999, only 16 of the 1,393 new chemical products marketed were related to tropical diseases or tuberculosis. A drug was 13 times more likely to be for cancer or central nervous system disorders than for an NTD. Consequently, many programs rely on donations. The Mectizan Donation Program, for example, has donated more than 1.8 billion tablets of ivermectin.

The Gates Foundation has also funded much of the extra activity needed to counter these diseases.

NTDs are not limited to developing nations; they also exist in developed countries. In the United States, at least 12 million people have neglected parasitic infections. These often affect the poorest members of society. For instance, rates of toxocariasis among African Americans may reach 2.8 million cases. In Europe, these diseases are concentrated in eastern and southern regions where poverty is higher.

Migration can also introduce diseases like Chagas disease to new areas, with as many as 6,000 cases introduced to Europe. Understanding these connections helps scientists address the hidden disease burden in wealthy nations.