Neglected Tropical Diseases and Trachoma

Abstract

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a diverse set of communicable diseases that are usually prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas of 149 countries [1]. One in five people worldwide is at risk of NTDs. These diseases generally affect the poorest—approximately 1.6 billion people living in the most marginalized communities. In addition to the deaths they cause, NTDs also cause substantial disability, stigma, and loss of livelihood [2]. People living in poverty without adequate sanitation and in close contact with infectious vectors, domestic animals, and livestock are those worst affected (Fig. 13.1).