Description List
The neglected tropical diseases are a group of chronic infectious diseases which, although different from the nosological viewpoint, form a single group because all are strongly associated with poverty, proliferate in environments with scarce resources, especially in tropical areas, and tend to coexist and most of them are ancient diseases which have been plaguing humanity for centuries. They may be controlled, prevented and possibly eliminated using effective strategies, and at a feasible cost. However, they have long been neglected by political world.
Overall health, descending from Tropical Medicine, sinking part of its roots in the neglected tropical diseases, which, in turn, play an important part in the area of interest and intervention of global health for several reasons. Fighting neglected tropical diseases means first fighting poverty, one of the main determinants of the health of populations. Combating neglected diseases, because of the new epidemiological scenarios due to migration and international travel, requires a new transnational vision and a multidisciplinary approach both to community and individual patient issues. For this reason, the intervention of numerous professionals from many different areas such as veterinary, agronomy, engineering, and the humanities fields is essential.
