Neglected Diseases: Burden and attention

Abstract

Neglected diseases are largely infectious diseases that have burdened humanity for centuries, but currently receiving little attention. Infectious diseases in their long histories have resulted in considerable morbidities, disabilities and deformities, often subjecting to stigma. The magnitude of their impact on health and labor productivity led to a thorough understanding about their biology, and epidemiology, and effective control tools and strategies were developed for most of them. Owing to the overall socio-economic development and improved living conditions, opportunities for transmission of communicable diseases are reduced in the developed parts of the world and in limited parts of the metropolitan areas of developing countries. Neglected diseases are concentrated almost exclusively in impoverished populations living in areas where provision for basic environmental health, including vector control and minimum package of health service are strictly limited.