Parasitic diseases : current and future challenges

1. Parasitic diseases: current and future challenges • Results • Diagnosis: There is a scarcity of toolsand trained staff in resource poor settings. • Treatment: There is limited access to effective/appropriate treatments in endemic areas. • Co-infections: Not enough is known about co-infections with other diseases. • Resistance: Increasing resistance due to limited expertise and increased use chemotherapy in domesticated livestock is causing difficulties in effective treatment. • Funding/Awareness: There is a lack of innovation and investment for parasitic disease. • Economic impact/future workforce: Parasitic diseases have a major impact on mental and growth retardation. • Environmental and ecological factors: A lack of political will, funding, climate change and environmental management present hurdles in tackling parasitic infections. • Eradication: Can be extremely difficult due to environmental challenges. • Background: • Parasitic diseases are the cause of massive loss of income and increased morbidity in low-income settings. • Parasitic diseases are endemic to low- and middle- income countries, but are spreading globally. • There is a lack of awareness and funding for action on parasitic diseases. • Recommendations • The London Declaration was an international pledge to target parasitic diseases by: • Increasing multi-sectoral collaboration. • Increasing research and development. • Increasing drug availability and provision. • Mobilising funding. • Improved surveillance is also required to manage outbreaks and global spread. • Parasitic lifecycles need to be considered in interventions e.g. mapping infected water sources for Schistosomiasis (below). Combined DALYs per 100,000 due selected parasitic diseases • Source: CDC. • What needs to be done • Greater awarenessand political commitment needs to be fostered in order to mobilisefundingfor research, drug development and environmentalmanagementof parasitic diseases. • Aim • To review current and future challenges facing parasitic diseases. • To investigate the current achievements for the management and control of parasitic diseases. • To find targets for effective interventions. • Methods • An extensive literature review and analysis of the secondary data available on the global burden of disease, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, vector management and control of parasitic diseases. Selected parasitic diseases: malaria, Trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, Schistosomiasis, Leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis, Onchocerciasis, Ascariasis, Trichuriasis, and Hookworm disease. Data source: WHO 2004. Data Source: Moran M, Guzman J, Abela Oversteegen L, Liyanage R, Omune B, Wu L, Chapman N, Gouglas D. Neglected Diseases Reesearch and Development in innovation under threat. Policy Cures. 2011. : Karolinska Institutet: Global Health Programme Vittoria Crispino (vittoria.crispino@stud.ki.se); Louis Potter (louis.potter@stud.ki.se); Chris Rausch (christian.rausch@stud.ki.se); Gabriele Santi (gabriele.santi@stud.ki.se); Alexandra Searle (alexandra.searle@stud.ki.se); Remy Mengying (mengying.ren@stud.ki.se).