Disease Control Priorities for Neglected Tropical Diseases: Lessons from Priority Ranking Based on the Quality of Evidence, Cost Effectiveness, Severity of Disease, Catastrophic Health Expenditures, and Loss of Productivity

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 132-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Marie Strømme ◽  
Kristine Baerøe ◽  
Ole Frithjof Norheim
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Hotez

Abstract Before the founding of the People’s Republic of China 70 years ago, both extreme poverty and parasitic infections and other neglected tropical diseases were highly prevalent. Owing to social development, particularly economic reforms since the 1980s, poverty has since been dramatically reduced, and China became increasingly urbanized and industrialized. In parallel, China’s economic transformation translated into similar and remarkable reductions in neglected tropical diseases. Qian and colleagues report in their review published in Infectious Diseases of Poverty, the elimination or near elimination as a public health problem of lymphatic filariasis, trachoma, soil-transmitted helminth infections, schistosomiasis and other neglected tropical diseases. Of note, neglected tropical disease control and poverty reduction each appear to reinforce the other. China’s formula for success in parasitic and neglected tropical disease control might translate to other parts of the world, such as in sub-Saharan Africa through China’s new Belt and Road Initiative.


2019 ◽  
Vol 113 (12) ◽  
pp. 839-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Kuper

AbstractNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of infectious conditions that vary in their epidemiology, impact and control. They are among the most common conditions globally, affecting approximately one billion people. Many NTDs have long-term consequences, such as visual and physical impairments. As a result, people with NTDs may have difficulties in carrying out activities or participating in society—in other words, NTDs can cause disabilities. Additionally, NTDs are often strongly linked to stigma and can have mental health consequences. It is therefore important to incorporate rehabilitation within NTD programmes. Rehabilitation can be conceptualized narrowly in terms of the provision of clinical services (e.g. physiotherapy and assistive devices) or, more broadly, including efforts to improve employment, overcome stigma and enhance social participation of people with disabilities. Approximately 15% of the global population has a disability, and this large group must be considered when designing NTD programmes. Improving the inclusion of people with disabilities may require adaptations to NTD programmes, such as making them physically accessible or training staff about disability awareness. Without incorporating disability within NTD programmes, the quality of life of people with NTDs will suffer and global targets for elimination and management of NTDs will not be met.


MicroRNA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-48
Author(s):  
Supat Chamnanchanunt ◽  
Saovaros Svasti ◽  
Suthat Fucharoen ◽  
Tsukuru Umemura

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a common health problem and require an efficient campaign to be eradicated from tropical countries. Almost a million people die of NTDs every year in the world, and almost forty percent of the patients are under 20 years. Mass Drug Administration (MDA) is an effective tool for eradication of this health condition. However, a monitoring system is required to evaluate treatment-response and early detection of the re-emerging NTD. The relevance of current tests depends on good quality of the specimen. Thus, new molecular methods with high sensitivity and specificity are required. In this review, we focus on microRNAs (miRNAs) as biomarkers of NTDs through a narrative review on human research. We searched for reliable search engines using a systematical literature review algorithm and included studies that fit the criterion. Five NTDs (lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases, and trachoma) were set as our target diseases. Later on, the data were extracted and classified as monitoring response and early detection. Four miRNAs were studied in filariasis as a monitoring response. There were 12 miRNAs related to onchocerciasis infection, and 6 miRNAs with schistosomiasis infection. Six miRNAs showed a link to soil-transmitted helminths. Only 3 miRNAs correlated with trachoma infection. In conclusion, circulating miR is a less invasive and promising approach to evaluate NTDs. Further field study may translate those candidate miRs to clinical application of the prevention and control of NTDs.


Author(s):  
Simon J Brooker ◽  
Kundai Ziumbe ◽  
Nebiyu Negussu ◽  
Siobhan Crowley ◽  
Mona Hammami

Abstract Countries have seen substantial disruptions to usual health services related to coronavirus disease 2019 and these are likely to have immediate and long-term indirect effects on many disease control programmes, including neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The pandemic has highlighted the usefulness of mathematical modelling to understand the impacts of these disruptions and future control measures on progress towards 2030 NTD goals. The pandemic also provides an opportunity, and a practical necessity, to transform NTD programmes through innovation.


Author(s):  
Emma M Harding-Esch ◽  
Molly A Brady ◽  
Cristiam A Carey Angeles ◽  
Fiona M Fleming ◽  
Diana L Martin ◽  
...  

Abstract The 2021–2030 Neglected Tropical Diseases road map calls for intensified cross-cutting approaches. By moving away from vertical programming, the integration of platforms and intervention delivery aims to improve efficiency, cost-effectiveness and programme coverage. Drawing on the direct experiences of the authors, this article outlines key elements for successful integrated surveys, the challenges encountered, as well as future opportunities and threats to such surveys. There are multiple advantages. Careful planning should ensure that integration does not result in a process that is less efficient, more expensive or that generates data driving less reliable decisions than conducting multiple disease-specific surveys.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 355
Author(s):  
Ilaria Viozzi ◽  
Alis Guberinic ◽  
Christiaan G. Overduin ◽  
Maroeska M. Rovers ◽  
Mark ter Laan

Background: Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimal invasive neurosurgical technique for the treatment of brain tumors. Results of LITT have been reported in a case series of patients with deep seated and/or recurrent glioblastoma or cerebral metastases. With this review we aim to summarize the currently available evidence regarding safety and effectiveness of LITT in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (nGBM). Methods: A literature search was performed using electronic databases (PubMed and Embase). Papers were assessed for the methodological quality using the Risk Of Bias In Non- randomised Studies - of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess the quality of the evidence. Results: We identified 835 papers of which only 11 articles were eligible for our review. All papers suffered from serious or critical risk of bias, and the quality of evidence was graded as very low according to the GRADE criteria. None of the studies was randomized and reporting of confounders and other parameters was poor. Median overall survival (OS) ranged from 4.1 to 32 months and progression free survival (PFS) from 2 to 31 months. The mean complication rate was 33.7%. No quality of life or cost-effectiveness data were reported. Conclusions: Due to the low quality of the studies, it is not possible to draw firm conclusions regarding the (cost) effectiveness of LITT in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. The low quality of evidence shows the need for a well-designed prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial.


Author(s):  
Pedro Augusto De Freitas Borges ◽  
Wagner Augusto Fiel ◽  
Vitor Azevedo Vasconcellos ◽  
Ricardo Adriano Dorledo De Faria

The World Health Organization classifies neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in order to highlight the impact of these diseases on public health and as a tool to eradicate them. Due to its risk to human health, especially in the last decade, several publications have been dedicated to the proposal of alternative diagnosis for NTDs. The rapid detection of these diseases is essential for the early initiation of treatment and, thus, allows the reduction of mortality and improves the quality of life of patients. However, the conventional techniques used to detect NTDs are expensive, time-consuming and require more sophisticated equipment in the laboratory, which hinders analyzes to be performed in situ. In light of this context, researchers have been working on the application of biosensors to overcome the current problems. The results found have been promising, as the biosensors exhibited low detection limits with high selectivity and the possibility of performance in miniaturized/portable systems. This technology combines the specificity of biological probes with the sensitivity and stability of several groups of transducers (mainly electrochemical and optical ones). In the present manuscript, we reviewed the recent advances in the field of biosensors to detect some of the main pathogens causing NTDs worldwide (Zika, dengue, schistosomiasis, malaria, snakebite envenoming, leishmaniasis and Chagas disease).


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chinwe C. Eze ◽  
Ngozi Ekeke ◽  
Chukwuka Alphonsus ◽  
Linda Lehman ◽  
Joseph N. Chukwu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Lymphatic filariasis (LF), Buruli ulcer (BU) and leprosy are neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) of the skin co-endemic in some communities in Nigeria. Not enough is known about the effectiveness of integrated morbidity management and disability prevention in people with these conditions. An integrated self-care intervention was carried out for people with these skin NTDs in two endemic communities of Anambra state, Nigeria. The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of self-care practices on costs of care, disability status and health-related quality of life. Methods This study utilised a quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design to assess the effectiveness of the self-care interventions for people affected by NTDs to care for these impairments at home. Data were collected using questionnaires administered at the beginning and at the end of the intervention on monthly cost of morbidity care, and on participants’ disability status and their quality of life (QoL). Focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with both the participants and healthcare workers at follow-up. Results Forty-eight participants were recruited. Thirty participants (62.5%) continued the self-care interventions until the end of the project. Of those, 25 (83%) demonstrated improvement from their baseline impairment status. The mean household costs of morbidity care per participant decreased by 66% after the intervention, falling from US$157.50 at baseline to US$53.24 after 6 months of self-care (p = 0.004). The mean disability score at baseline was 22.3; this decreased to 12.5 after 6 months of self-care (p < 0.001). Among the 30 participants who continued the interventions until the end of the project, 26 (86.7%) had severe disability score (i.e. a score of 10–46) at baseline, and the number with severe disability fell to 18 (60%) of the 30 after the intervention. The mean QoL score increased from 45.7 at baseline to 57.5 at the end of the intervention (p = 0.004). Conclusions The 6-month self-care intervention for participants affected by BU, leprosy, or LF led to lower costs of care (including out-of-pocket costs and lost earnings due to morbidity), improved QoL scores, and reduced disability status. Trial registration ISRCTN Registry: ISRCTN20317241; 27/08/2021, Retrospectively registered.


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