According to “Light for the World”, the specialist organization for people with disabilities, this is no surprise, as the vast majority of those affected live in poverty. Illness, disability and death. The World Health Organization has defined 20 diseases that are caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi or poisons.
All of them have far-reaching health, social and economic consequences for patients. They reinforce the vicious cycle of poverty, poor education, little or no income, illness and disability, said “Light for the World” on the Day of Neglected Tropical Diseases next Tuesday. Those who have leprosy, in addition to his or her health problems, not only have health problems, but are also socially stigmatized and have poorer or no income.
Tropical diseases spread particularly quickly in areas with poor infrastructure such as rural areas in poverty, conflict zones, and areas after natural disasters. If hygiene is poor and running water is not available, trachoma, a bacterial eye disease, leprosy or sleeping sickness quickly become a major problem.
WHO wants to eradicate tropical diseases by 2030
The WHO has set itself the goal of eradicating neglected tropical diseases by 2030. This goal has become more distant after setbacks, particularly due to the corona pandemic. Nevertheless, there is progress: In 2010, for example, 2.2 billion people were still threatened by tropical diseases, but the current figure is 1.6 billion. By the end of last year, at least 50 countries had eliminated at least one tropical disease. By 2030, at least one tropical disease should be eradicated in 100 countries.
The list of neglected tropical diseases:
Buruli ulcer: an infectious disease of the skin and soft tissues with the formation of sometimes extensive ulcers. The pathogen is Mycobacterium ulcerans. The disease can lead to severe mutilations, but can also heal on its own after months or years. It is particularly widespread in West, Central and East Africa among rural populations near bodies of water and swampland.
Chagas disease: is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and is transmitted through the feces of blood-sucking predatory bugs. Mainly widespread in Central and South America, in Bolivia it is estimated that a quarter of the population may be affected. Occurs in four stages in humans, becomes chronic and, if left untreated, can lead to death in up to ten percent of those affected.
Chromoblastomykose: a fungal infection that primarily affects the extremities and often remains chronic. Causes small nodular ulcers and is often resistant to treatment. Mostly occurs in tropical and subtropical regions.
Denguefieber: is caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes. Endemic in tropical and subtropical regions, around half of the world‘s people live in endemic dengue regions. 80 percent of infections have no symptoms, the remaining 20 percent usually have mild to moderate symptoms. Severe cases are rare and, if they do, usually only after a second infection. In severe cases, hemorrhagic dengue fever can occur; the mortality rate for these severe cases is one to five percent, but can also reach 15 percent in individual epidemics. A vaccination has recently been available.
Dracunculiasis or Dracontiasis: a severe parasitosis in humans caused by the Medina worm. The infection occurs primarily in the dry season, when there is no regulated drinking water supply and the population resorts to collecting water. The larvae of the medina worm reach humans via tiny copepods, where they are released in the small intestine. They burrow into the abdominal or chest muscles, where they mate. The male dies and the female grows to a height of up to one meter. The disease occurs mainly in the Orient. There is no drug treatment, but the worm can be removed surgically. However, after about a year and two to three weeks of larval release, it dies and the ulcer it caused usually heals.
Echinococcosis: This includes tapeworm infections.
Flukes transmitted through food: particularly widespread in East Asia and South America. Transmitted by eating raw fish and crustaceans or vegetables that harbor flukes. For example, they cause severe lung and liver diseases.
Sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis): Endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, it is caused by human-pathogenic protozoa. They are transmitted by the tsetse fly when it bites. If left untreated, the disease leads to death.
Leishmaniasis: an infectious disease caused by parasites that occurs particularly in eastern Africa as well as in Colombia and Peru and is transmitted by sand flies. There are many clinical pictures. Internal leishmaniasis is particularly dangerous and, without treatment, is fatal in around 95 percent of cases.
Leprosy: is still a serious problem in many countries in the global south, while it has been almost eliminated in countries with functioning health care. It is caused by Mycobacterium leprae and is transmitted through droplet infection. However, leprosy is only slightly contagious and is considered curable.
Lymphatic filariasis: an infection with parasitic roundworms. It is one of the most common neglected tropical diseases and manifests itself after several years in the development of elephantiasis, especially on the legs.
I have: is primarily caused by fungi, but also by bacteria that get into a wound on the skin. Occurs primarily in the tropics, but also in the subtropics. Manifests itself in a chronic granulation tumor and is treated with antibiotics; in the fungal form, surgical treatment is primarily carried out.
Noma or cheek burn: is a serious bacterial disease that develops on the oral mucosa and from there eats away at other soft and bone parts of the face. According to WHO estimates, between 80,000 and 90,000 children die as a result every year. It usually affects children in developing countries whose immune systems are already weakened by malnutrition, poor oral hygiene and other previous illnesses such as measles, rubella, mumps or meningitis.
Onchozerkose: occurs in the tropical regions of Africa and America and is caused by a certain type of nematode. In around ten percent, the disease leads to incurable blindness, known as river blindness. The vast majority of cases are in Africa. The disease is treated, among other things, with ivermectin, which gained dubious fame in the corona pandemic.
Podokoniose: a non-infectious type of elephantiasis, also known as non-filarial elephantiasis. Distributed in the highlands of tropical Africa, Central America and northern India. The cause is microparticles in soils with a high content of red laterites of volcanic origin, which penetrate through the intact skin of people walking barefoot into the subcutaneous tissue and lead to inflammation. The victims are exposed to massive stigmatization, among other things because of the smell of the inflamed skin. The most effective treatment is prevention through wearing socks and sturdy shoes and foot hygiene.
Rabies: According to a WHO estimate, it causes 59,000 deaths per year, 60 percent of which occur in Asia and 36 percent in Africa. The vast majority of cases are transmitted from dogs to people. There are vaccinations.
Scabies (scabies): parasitic skin disease caused by the burrowing or scabies mite. It is now less common in industrialized countries and has been on the WHO’s list of neglected tropical diseases since 2013. An estimated 130 million people are infected worldwide. Treatable.
Schistosomiasis (Bilharziose): Worm disease caused by the larvae of fluke fluke genus, which is spread in warm inland waters using snails as intermediate hosts. Can be treated with the drug praziquantel. The problem is access for many infected people.
Snake bites: 5.4 million people are bitten worldwide every year and around 80,000 to 138,000 deaths according to WHO estimates. Nevertheless, according to the World Health Organization, the problem is a neglected public health issue in tropical and subtropical countries. In Asia, however, up to two million people are poisoned by snakebites every year; in Africa, around 500,000 people have to be treated every year, according to the WHO. The problem is getting appropriate medical care in a timely manner. In addition to the deaths, around 400,000 people affected suffer disabilities every year.
Soil-borne helminthiases: another worm infection that, according to WHO estimates, affects around two billion people worldwide and kills up to 135,000 people per year.
Sporotrichosis: a fungal disease that can affect the deeper layers of the skin, the lymphatic system and even the entire body. The pathogen is Sporothrix schenckii, which occurs everywhere. Treatment is relatively easy and effective with medication.
Taeniasis/Zystizerkosis: Infections with bovine or pork tapeworm.
Trachom: an eye infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, which can lead to blindness if left untreated. The bacteria are transmitted primarily via flies that sit on children’s eyes. It can be spread further by sharing washcloths or towels. As the disease progresses, the eyelids become scarred, the eyelashes turn inward and, with great pain for the patient, scratch the cornea until it is milky and opaque. Depending on the stage, the disease can be treated with antibiotics or surgery.
Tungiasis: Infestation of the body by sand fleas, which occur in Central and South America, Africa and Australia. The fertilized female fleas nest in the skin and lay eggs. The increasing size causes inflammation and ulcers in the skin. The damage can also be entry points for other pathogens. The consequences can even be mutilation.
Yaws: an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pertenue that occurs in tropical regions. The consequences can be severe deformations, for example in joints. Can be easily treated with medication – for example with penicillin.
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