Reconsidering the underestimated burden caused by neglected tropical diseases.
It is generally acknowledged that the burden caused by neglected tropical diseases needs to be reassessed. Not only are there several important diseases unaccounted for, but new information suggests they have a more substantial impact on health than initially thought. Looking at the tropical diseases as a group makes sense: they tend to cluster in the same poor populations and, to make progress with their control, they will have to be dealt with in an integrated manner. Measuring the effect of such integrated control is likely to reveal the real impact of tropical diseases on human health and wellbeing.
Engels
Dirk
D
Department of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland. engelsd@who.int
Savioli
Lorenzo
L
D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D014943:Global Health; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D008017:Life Expectancy; D011203:Poverty; D011788:Quality of Life; D014330:Tropical Medicine