Talal Amjad Rommel Ramesh Neglected Tropical Diseases NTDs

Talal Amjad & Rommel Ramesh Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)

What are they? � Diverse group of infectious diseases � Caused by variety of pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites) � Prevalent in low-income, isolated communities in tropical climates � Neglected in comparison to Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (“the big three”)

List of diseases � Buruli ulcer � Chagas disease � Cysticercosis � Dengue fever � Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm Disease)* � Echinococcosis � Fascioliasis � Human African Trypanosomiasis (African Sleeping Sickness) � Leishmaniasis � Leprosy (Hansen's disease) � Lymphatic filariasis* � Onchocerciasis* � Rabies � Schistosomiasis* � Soil-transmitted Helminths (STH) (Ascaris, hookworm, and whipworm)* � Trachoma* � Yaws * Controllable through mass drug administration (MDA)

Distribution of NTDs

Soil-transmitted Helminths (STH) �Intestinal parasitic worms �Roundworm (ascaris), hookworm, whipworm �Transmitted through eggs in contaminated soil (human feces, sewage water irrigation) � 1. 5 billion people, or 24% of the world’s population, are infected

Transmission

Roundworm �Affects 807 -1, 221 million �Transmitted orally �Diagnosed by presence of eggs or roundworm in stool sample �No symptoms, otherwise mild abdominal discomfort �Could lead to intestinal obstruction in children �Treatments - anti-helmentic drugs, surgery to remove worm, iron supplements �Prevention – good hygiene, avoid infected soil, proper sewage infrastructure

Distribution of Ascaris (Roundworm)

Hookworm �Affects 576 -740 million �Transmitted orally and through skin �Diagnosed by presence of eggs or hookworm in stool sample �Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, intestinal bleeding, anemia �Treatments - anti-helmentic drugs (cheap, effective and easy to administer), surgery to remove worm, iron supplements �Prevention – good hygiene, avoid walking bare foot and skin contact with soil

Distribution of hookworm

Whipworm �Affects 604 -795 million �Transmitted through contaminated food or soil �Diagnosis through microscopic examination of stool sample for eggs �Treated with anti-helmintic drugs (albendazole and mebendazole) and iron supplements �Prevention through education of basic hygiene, prevention

Distribution of whipworm

Public initiatives

Sources �https: //www. cdc. gov/globalhealth/ntd/diseases/ �http: //www. who. int/neglected_diseases/disease s/en/ �http: //www. who. int/intestinal_worms/disease/e n/ �https: //www. cdc. gov/parasites/whipworm/ �https: //www. cdc. gov/parasites/hookworm/ �https: //www. cdc. gov/parasites/ascariasis/ �https: //www. neglecteddiseases. gov/about/result s �http: //sciencewatch. com/grr/neglected-tropicaldiseases