title: Preventive chemotherapy and the fight against neglected tropical diseases.
abstract: Preventive chemotherapy is the public health strategy recommended by the WHO against a set of neglected tropical diseases that includes four groups of helminth infections (lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis) and one chlamydial (trachoma) infection. This article presents the characteristics of preventive chemotherapy interventions directed against each disease targeted by this strategy and provides an update on the status of their implementation worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland. montresora@who.int
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montresor
authors.forename: Albis Francesco
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Gabrielli
authors.forename: Lester
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chitsulo
authors.forename: Kazuyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ichimori
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Engels
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Savioli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018890:Chemoprevention; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011634:Public Health; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology; D014141:Trachoma / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014330:Tropical Medicine
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012987:Soil