Strongyloidiasis

Strongyloidiasis is a human parasitic ailment brought about by a whiplike nematode worm called Strongyloides stercoralis. Most humans get the infection by coming in contact with contaminated soil whereby the tiny worms penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream from where it passes through the right side of the heart and lungs to mouth, stomach, and small intestines. Replication inside tainted people enables the disease to persevere for quite a long time. Strongyloides can cause a hyperinfection disorder which causes side effects in numerous organ frameworks, including the central nervous system that can prompt death if untreated. The diagnosis is made by blood and stool tests. This chapter is intended to draw a more precise picture of the global prevalence, diagnosis, and risk factors for S. stercoralis. The chapter also discusses the diagnostic approaches for detecting the infection, the morbidity caused and the recommended management. It further discusses some of the reasons why this infection is so neglected and the consequence of this for the estimated global prevalence.

Network Modelling on Tropical Diseases vs. Climate Change

This chapter has proposed a systematic method to design mathematical models. These models have been associated with counting of white blood cells, counting of red blood cells, population of mosquitoes, and counting of foreign bodies like virus, bacteria, and parasite in a human body. Interpretations for critical points or equilibrium points have been given for network systems of differential equations associated with models. A practical method of applying these interpretations in administrating medicines to get control over diseases has been given. Order of priority in three types of critical points, namely, stable critical points, unstable critical points, and asymptotically stable critical points, has been given. Conversions of differential equations of models into integral equations and applying Picard's iteration method to solve integral equations have been explained. A step-by-step approach has been used in designing models, solving models, and interpreting solutions of models for tropical diseases.

Geographical Distribution of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and Its Relationship With Climate Change in Southeastern Morocco

The current chapter deals with one of the most neglected tropical diseases in Morocco, the cutaneous leishmaniasis. It is based on 10-year research (2010-2017) on the evolution of leishmaniasis taking climate change into account. Epidemiological and climatological data were collected from different administrations. The Geographic Information System (GIS) is chosen for interpolation, space-time analysis of climate data and map creation. The SPSS software was used for statistical analysis and to establish the relationship between Leishmaniasis and climatic conditions. Results show that the maximum number of cases is recorded in 2010 with 4,407 people affected while the low number is recorded in 2014 with 18 cases. Results also show a clear link between climatic factors and the incidence of the disease. The distribution of the disease in the province is influenced by maximum temperature, aridity, and vegetation cover. Additionally, anthropogenic factors play a significant role in explaining the emergence or re-emergence of leishmaniasis in the region.

Climate Change and Diseases of Plants and Animals

Home Garden is a complex sustainable land use system that combines multiple farming components of the homestead and provides environmental services, household needs, and employment and income generation opportunities to the households. Predicted climate changes have serious implications for crop and livestock yields particularly in tropical regions. Home garden may act as a cushion to the adverse climate shocks. There is dearth of in-depth study of home garden ecosystem in India. Authors selected 100 households in Garhbeta-1 block, which is in the dry zone in the district of Paschim Medinipur in West Bengal for this study. The main objectives of this chapter include: (a) identifying key characteristics of the home garden, (b) identifying the pattern of climate change from the household perceptions and the changes made in the home gardens. (c) identifying different diseases of plants and animals in home gardens in the study area (d) managing diseases of plants in home gardens, (e) identifying different problems/ constraints in home.

Maternal Determinants of Childhood Stunting

The progress on reducing stunting is rather slow in Pakistan despite significant reductions in poverty which begs a question why Pakistan has been unable to make significant strides in improving nutrition indicators for children over the past few decades. Despite the recognized importance of the problem in national and international forums, research on determinants of child stunting in Pakistan is scarce, especially in the context of the role of mother's health, education, and empowerment in determining a child's nutrition status. Therefore, this chapter incorporates the mother's health, education, and empowerment-related factors in determining the factors that affect child stunting in Pakistan. Using simple OLS methodology on DHS (2012-13) dataset for Pakistan, the authors' results show that improvement in mother's health, women empowerment, and women's education are likely to reduce stunting. Moreover, better hygiene and better food intake also reduce stunting among children in Pakistan.

The Role of Community Participation in Fighting Schistosomiasis

In 2009, the Moroccan Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization confirmed that the transmission of schistosomiasis had ceased in all previously endemic provinces of Morocco. This achievement couldn't have been achieved without the effective participation and engagement of local communities. In this chapter, studies of community participation strategies for schistosomiasis control in Akka oasis were reviewed. Southern Morocco was known to be a foci site for urinary schistosomiasis since 1937. Combined efforts between health officials and local community participation have achieved the elimination of this neglected tropical disease, where the last cases in these foci were recorded in the early 2000s. The results of this chapter can be used to increase awareness of the need for community participation in controlling neglected tropical diseases such as schistosomiasis.

Climate Change and Health Impacts in Pakistan

Conferring to the Global Risk Index, Pakistan is ranked as the 7th most susceptible country to the inexorable influence of climate change. Before this century ends, the annual mean temperature in Pakistan is expected to rise from 3°C to 5°C for a focal worldwide discharge situation. Usually, annual precipitation is not relied upon to have a critical long haul pattern. Ocean level is relied upon to ascend further by 60 centimeters. All these climatic events are likely to disrupt the economy, lives, and the socio-political aspects of human life. Pakistan has already witnessed massive loss in terms of human, infrastructural, and economic aspects. The chapter is designed to understand both the direct and indirect health risks associated with frequent climatic events like floods, drought, and heat waves in Pakistan. After analyzing the available literature, it was observed that floods and drought have direct and indirect health risks associated with them while in case of heat waves, health risks cannot be established precisely as multiple variables are involved, playing a significant role.