Tropical Infectious Diseases of Global Significance: Insights and Perspectives

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are indeed a group of illnesses (Table 1) affecting hundreds of millions of individuals living in tropical and sub-tropical geographical regions of the globe, particularly in socioeconomic vulnerability areas where access to adequate sanitation, a clean water supply, and healthcare is limited [...].

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are indeed a group of illnesses (Table 1) affecting hundreds of millions of individuals living in tropical and sub-tropical geographical regions of the globe, particularly in socioeconomic vulnerability areas where access to adequate sanitation, a clean water supply, and healthcare is limited [1,2].In other words, NTDs are intimately associated with poverty and inequity, affecting the most marginalized communities in the world, predominantly living in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.However, NTDs have the potential to affect anyone, regardless of their geographical location, since climate change can lead to the spread of NTDs to areas that were previously unaffected [3].
NTDs can cause chronic and debilitating illnesses with various consequences, including pain, blindness, disability, disfiguration, reduced productivity, impacts on child development, societal stigma, and, in some cases, death [1,4].In this context, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended five key public health interventions to address the impact of NTDs: (i) preventive chemotherapy (e.g., mass drug administration), (ii) innovative and intensified disease management, (iii) vector ecology and management (e.g., controlling disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes), (iv) veterinary public health services (e.g., addressing zoonotic diseases), and (v) ensuring access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services [1,5,6].Relevantly, the "One Health" approach, which considers the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, is definitely recognized as a valuable strategy to combat many NTDs.This approach recognizes that some NTDs can be transmitted between animals and humans and that environmental factors play a role in their transmission.Therefore, addressing NTDs often requires collaboration between human health, animal health, and environmental experts [7].
The first paper was published by Fatima and colleagues [8], who conducted a systematic review to assess the impact of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) on COVID-19.The authors concluded that the use of PPI resulted in a significant increase in the risk and severity of COVID-19 infection, resulting in a rise in composite poor outcome and mortality in COVID-19-infected patients.Hasan and colleagues [9] published a research paper describing the genetic analysis of influenza A/H1N1pdm strains recovered from patients who were attended at a hospital in Bangladesh in early 2020, immediately before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tanojo and colleagues [10] suggested that the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio could be potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of erythema nodosum leprosum, which is an acute immune complex-mediated condition seen in patients with multibacillary leprosy that impacts the patients' quality of life.
Costa-da-Silva and colleagues [11] presented a review on the role of host immune responses in the establishment, development, and outcome of leishmaniasis, focusing on interactions between innate immune cells and Leishmania major.
Roncati and colleagues [12] published a case reported describing left cubital tunnel syndrome in a 28-year-old right-handed healthy male after COVID-19 vaccination.
Opara [13] described a case report of bilateral cortical blindness caused by neurocysticercosis due to Taenia solium in an adolescent Nigerian male.The patient was appropriately treated, resulting in the resolution of most symptoms; however, the patient remained permanently blind.
Labib & Chigbu [14] reviewed the pathogenesis of ocular manifestations in individuals with Zika virus infection.The authors emphasized immunology, interactions with the host's immune system, and the pathological mechanisms associated with Zika virus infection.
Guo and colleagues [15] conducted a longitudinal study to analyze the impact of COVID-19 vaccine incentive policies on county-level COVID-19 vaccination rates; the authors also examined the interactive effects between COVID-19 vaccine incentive policies and socioeconomic factors on COVID-19 vaccination rates.
Vasudeva and colleagues [16] conducted a study to evaluate the awareness of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in men and women from the Sub-Saharan African region, as well as the strength of the association between the awareness of STIs and STIs infection.

Table 1 .
List of the NTDs recognized by the WHO.