12. tbl. 97. árg. 2011
Neglected tropical diseases – review
Neglected tropical diseases include a variety of infectious diseases. This review shortly describes the most common diseases. Those infected usually live at a low socioeconomic status and rarely have access to satisfactory health care. The neglected diseases are common and have a high burden of disease. In comparison to HIV, malaria and tuberculosis this group of diseases is in fact neglected. Certain diseases within the group are more neglected than others. Investment for research does not appear to be decided in proportion to burden of disease. Much can be gained by extermination of these diseases. The solution is to integrate improvement of living standards and battling diseases. Iceland has a role to play.
| Bacteria | Trachoma |
| Leprosy | |
| Buruli ulcers | |
| Yaws | |
| Diarrhea | |
| Parasites | Leishmaniasis |
| Trypanosomiasis brucei | |
| Trypanosomiasis cruzi (Chagas disease) | |
| Schistosomiasis | |
| Onchocerciasis | |
| Filariasis | |
| Intestinal helminths | |
| Dracunculiasis | |
| Diarrhea | |
| Viruses | Dengue fever |
| Yellow fever | |
| Japanese encephalitis | |
| Diarrhea |
Table I. Neglected tropical diseases divided by whether their infection is caused by a bacteria, a parasite or a virus.
| Disease | US$ | DALY | Death rate | Prevalence | Incidence |
| HIV | 1.083.000 | 58.500 | 2.040 | 31.400 | 2.800 |
| Malaria | 468.449 | 34.000 | 863 | 4.400 | 243.000 |
| Tuberculosis | 410.429 | 34.200 | 1.464 | 13.900 | 7.800 |
| Combined | 1.961.878 | 126.700 | 4.367 | 49.700 | 253.600 |
| Disease | US$ | DALY | Death rate | Prevalence | Incidence |
| Kinetoplastid† | 125.123 | 4.170 | 138 | 27.200 | 2.570 |
| Diarrhea | 113.889 | 72.777 | 2.260 | u.v | 1.500.000 |
| Dengue Fever | 82.014 | 670 | 18 | u.v | 100.000 |
| Helminths and flukes‡ | 51.592 | 14.843 | 335 | 2.844.000 | 7.552 |
| Leprosy | 5.619 | 198 | 6 | 213 | 249 |
| Buruli ulcer | 2.413 | u.v. | u.v. | u.v. | u.v. |
| Trachoma | 1.680 | 1.334 | 0 | 84.000 | 837 |
| Other diseases₮ | u.v. | 681 | 41 | u.v. | 241 |
| Combined | 382.330 | 94.673 | 2.798 | 2.955.413 | 1.611.449 |
All numbers have been multiplied with 1/1000; US$ = United States Dollar; DALY = disability-adjusted life years; † = leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis; ‡ = onchocerciasis, filariasis, schistosomiasis and intestinal helminths; ₮ = yellow fever, dracunculiasis, yaws, japanese encephalitis; u.v. = no information.
Table II. Comparison of investment in United States dollars in research and development of diagnosis, therapies and preventions between neglected tropical diseases and HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. Also a comparison of burden of disease measured in DALY‘s, deathrate, prevalence and incidence.
| Disease | US$ / DALY | US$ / Death rate | US$ / Prevalence | US$ / Incidence |
| Kinetoplastid† | 30,0 | 906,7 | 4,6 | 48,7 |
| Diarrhea | 1,6 | 50,4 | U.v. | 0,1 |
| Dengue Fever | 122,4 | 4556,3 | U.v. | 0,8 |
| Helminths and flukes‡ | 3,5 | 154,0 | 0,0 | 6,8 |
| Leprosy | 28,4 | 936,5 | 26,4 | 22,6 |
| Buruli ulcer | U.v. | U.v. | U.v. | U.v. |
| Trachoma | 1,3 | U.v. | 0,0 | 2,0 |
| Other diseases₮ | U.v. | U.v. | U.v. | U.v. |
| Combined | 4,0 | 136,6 | 0,1 | 0,2 |
| Disease | US$ / DALY | US$ / Death rate | US$ / Prevalence | US$ / Incidence |
| HIV | 18,5 | 530,9 | 34,5 | 386,8 |
| Malaria | 13,8 | 542,8 | 106,5 | 1,9 |
| Tuberculosis | 12,0 | 280,3 | 29,5 | 52,6 |
| Combined | 15,5 | 449,3 | 39,5 | 7,7 |
All numbers have been multiplied with 1/1000; US$ = United States Dollar; DALY = disability-adjusted life years; † = leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis; ‡ = onchocerciasis, filariasis, schistosomiasis and intestinal helminths; ₮ = yellow fever, dracunculiasis, yaws, japanese encephalitis; u.v. = no information.
Table III. Proportions of investment divided by DALY‘s, deathrate, prevalence and incidence.