Neglected diseases

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The neglected diseases (Engl. Neglected diseases , even more precise than neglected tropical diseases referred to) are a group of tropical diseases that occur in poorer countries and populations. The exact list of so-called neglected diseases varies depending on the source, with the WHO currently prioritizing 20 diseases in this form.

The neglected diseases stand in contrast to the so-called big "killers" of the Third World ( AIDS , tuberculosis and malaria ), to which greater attention and research funds are being devoted. They occur only in the Third World, while AIDS and tuberculosis preoccupy industrialized countries. In contrast to the typical diseases of industrialized countries, there are no well-funded customers who can pay the research and development costs for the drugs required.

Diseases that are caused by protozoa and worms are very noticeable in the list of neglected diseases. They do not play a role in industrialized countries because of improved hygiene, climatic conditions and the lack of carriers (special types of flies and mosquitoes, for example). Other differences to the diseases of industrialized countries as well as AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis are:

  • The neglected diseases reduce the quality of life and the productivity of those affected, even if the course does not lead to death. They are usually chronic diseases.
  • The symptoms of the disease are often slow and indistinct, making self-diagnosis difficult for those affected. People then seek help late or not at all.

Diseases caused by trypanosomes

  • Kala-Azar ( intestinal leishmaniasis ). Treatments exist, vaccines are still in development.
  • African sleeping sickness . It was almost wiped out and kept under control during the colonial era, but cases increased after the end of colonialism . Treatment options exist: Melarsoprol is toxic and produces side effects; the only alternative is eflornithine .
  • Chagas disease (American sleeping sickness). There is no vaccination protection; Treatment options for the early stages of infection exist, but are uneconomical. Today's drugs produce severe side effects. For the sick person, Chagas means long-term symptoms that reduce the quality of life.

Worm diseases (helminthoses)

Ground-borne helmet pants

  • Ascariasis ( roundworm infestation ). Disease prevention requires wastewater treatment and food hygiene. The same is true for whipworms (Trichuris) and hookworms (Ankylostomiasis).

Bacterial infections

  • Leprosy .
  • Buruli ulcer . Severe ulceration of the skin, antibiotics are not effective. The infected / damaged tissue must be surgically removed, resulting in mutilations.
  • Trachoma . The "Egyptian Grain Disease" is a bacterial infection of the eye. It is the leading cause of blindness in tropical developing countries.
  • Yaws .

Viral diseases

  • Dengue fever . The flaviviruses are transmitted by the bite of a yellow fever mosquito ( Stegomyia aegypti , formerly Aedes-aegypti ) or the Asian tiger mosquito , which is now also spreading in Europe. The first infection is usually not fatal, but infection with one serotype increases the risk of a second infection with another serotype. The consequence of this is the very dangerous hemorrhagic dengue fever. There is no cure for both the initial infection and hemorrhagic fever. Only palliative medicine is possible.
  • Chikungunya . The Chikungunya virus is also transmitted by the yellow fever mosquito and the Asian tiger mosquito.
  • Rabies .

Other diseases

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Neglected tropical diseases. World Health Organization , 2020, accessed January 2, 2020 .