title: The Impact of Nurses on Neglected Tropical Disease Management.
abstract: Although Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are largely endemic in the developing nations of Africa, Asia, and South and Central America, they are reemerging with increasing frequency in developed countries. Their diagnosis, treatment, and control are an increasing public health concern that requires a different awareness by health care providers. Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are chronic infectious diseases which disproportionately burden poor, rural, and marginalized populations with significant mortality and high morbidity (disability, disfigurement, impaired childhood growth and cognitive development, increased vulnerability to coinfection) that reinforces their poverty. What can we learn from the nurses in developing countries already battling NTD's that could be useful in the developed world? This article provides an overview of distribution, pathophysiology, symptoms, and management of 13 NTDs, with particular attention to the role of nurses in delivering cost-effective integrated interventions. Case studies of schistosomiasis, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis address recognition and treatment of infected individuals in developed nations where NTD infection is limited primarily to immigrants and travelers.
authors.affiliation: Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blood-Siegfried
authors.affiliation: Winifred J. Harley College of Health Sciences, United Methodist University, Ganta, Liberia.
authors.forename: G Clinton
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Zeantoe
authors.affiliation: Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Lauren J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Mother Patern School of Health Sciences, Monrovia, Liberia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bondo
authors.affiliation: Coastal Immediate Primary Care, Southport, NC.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Forstner
authors.affiliation: Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D006801:Humans; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000451:nursing* / Q000503:physiopathology; D064689:Nurses, Public Health; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology; D014195:Travel; D014330:Tropical Medicine
keywords: disease management; disease prevention; epidemiology; global health; infectious diseases; interventions; tropical disease; vulnerable populations