Neglected Tropical Diseases: The Hidden Burden of Global Health

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of diseases that primarily affect people living in impoverished tropical and subtropical regions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NTDs include over 20 different diseases caused by parasites, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins. These diseases include lymphatic filariasis, river blindness, trachoma, schistosomiasis, and intestinal worm infections. They are known as “neglected” because they have historically received less attention and funding compared to other global health issues. WHO reports that in 2023, approximately 1.495 billion people required treatment against NTDs worldwide, but they still receive less attention and funding than diseases like AIDs/HIV. Although many NTDs are preventable or treatable, they continue to affect over a billion people worldwide due to various economic and social factors.

Who is Affected?

Neglected tropical diseases primarily affect more than 1 billion of the world's most impoverished and marginalized populations, particularly those living in poverty in tropical and subtropical regions. The highest burden occurs in sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, and parts of Oceania. Communities in these areas with limited access to clean water, sanitation, healthcare, and education are highly susceptible to the disease-causing parasites, bacteria, viruses, and vectors. Children are among the most affected because repeated infections can impair physical growth and cognitive development. At the same time, adults often experience chronic illness or disability that can prevent them from working to support their families. NTDs therefore result from and reinforce the cycle of poverty, making them not only a public health concern, but also a socioeconomic issue.

Why Are They Neglected?

NTDs are called "neglected because they have consistently received less funding compared to other diseases. Since these diseases are concentrated in low- and middle-income countries, they have historically received less political attention, funding, and research investments compared to higher-profile diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. In addition, many NTDs cause chronic illness, disability, blindness, or disfigurement rather than large, rapidly spreading outbreaks, which makes them less visible to the global public eye. As a result, many affected communities continue to face limited access to prevention and treatment. This lack of investment allows NTDs to persist and affect the quality of life in these communities.

Examples of NTDs

The World Health Organization currently recognizes 21 neglected tropical diseases worldwide. Some of the most widespread NTDs include lymphatic filariasis, a mosquito-borne parasitic disease that causes severe limb swelling; schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection transmitted through contaminated water contact; and onchocerciasis (river blindness), which is spread by blackflies and can lead to irreversible vision loss. Other major NTDs include leishmaniasis, which is transmitted by sandflies and can cause skin ulcers/organ damage; Chagas disease, which is spread by triatomine ("kissing") bugs and is associated with chronic heart/digestive complications; dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease that causes fever and hemorrhagic illness; and finally trachoma, a bacterial eye infection that remains the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. These are just a few examples of the NTDs that burden impoverished communities.

Diagnosis and Treatment

NTDs can mainly be diagnosed in labs using microscopy, serology, and culture techniques. NTDs caused by parasites can usually be detected using stool samples. Early detection is essential so that medical treatment can prevent severe complications and reduce disease transmission. Many NTDs can be treated with antiparasitic, antibacterial, or antifungal medications, while others may require surgery to manage long-term complications. In addition to treating patients individually, large-scale public health strategies such as mass drug administration (MDA) have been successful. MDA is when an entire population in an endemic area receives preventative medication, whether or not they show symptoms. Combining early diagnosis and effective treatment/prevention is critical to control and eliminate these diseases.

Socioeconomic Impacts

NTDs don't just affect individuals' physical health. They can cause long-term health complications that can reduce a person's quality of life. These conditions often carry social stigma, which can lead to discrimination, isolation, and mental health challenges for affected individuals. NTDs can prevent infected individuals from being able to attend school or work, which in turn can limit future opportunities and result in lost income. NTDs add to the financial strain on these already vulnerable communities. Neglected tropical diseases stem from and contribute to poverty, creating a cycle that hinders economic development and perpetuates health inequalities in these affected regions.

Prevention and Global Elimination Efforts

Preventing and controlling NTDs requires a combination of public health strategies and community-based interventions. Many NTDs can be reduced through improvements in water quality, sanitation, hygiene practices, vector control, and healthcare access. For the NTDs that are transmitted by mosquitoes and other vectors, using insecticide-treated bed nets and managing vector numbers can help reduce transmission. The WHO established the 2021-2030 NTD Road Map, which aims to accelerate progress toward eliminating/controlling several NTDs through access to treatment, surveillance, and improved healthcare systems. Mass drug administration is also a significant prevention method in the road to eliminating NTDs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, neglected tropical diseases remain a significant global health challenge, disproportionately affecting the world’s most vulnerable populations. Although many NTDs are preventable and treatable, they continue to persist due to the relationship between poverty, limited healthcare access, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient global investment. These diseases not only cause serious health consequences, including chronic illness, disability, and disfigurement, but also create social and economic barriers that reinforce cycles of poverty. Through improved diagnostics, accessible treatments, mass drug administration, sanitation improvements, and vector control efforts, substantial progress has been made toward reducing the burden of NTDs. However, continued research, funding, and international collaboration are necessary to address remaining challenges and achieve long-term elimination goals. Recognizing and prioritizing NTDs as a global health issue is essential to improving health equity and ensuring that affected communities receive the resources needed to prevent and overcome these diseases.

References

World Health Organization. “Neglected Tropical Diseases .” Www.Who.Int, 2023, https://www.who.int/health-topics/neglected-tropical-diseases#tab=tab_1. Accessed 15 July 2026.

“Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases.” Www.Who.Int, https://www.who.int/teams/control-of-neglected-tropical-diseases. Accessed 13 July 2026.

“Neglected Tropical Diseases | NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.” Nih.Gov, 2016, https://www.niaid.nih.gov/research/neglected-tropical-diseases. Accessed 15 July 2026.

“Neglected Tropical Diseases | NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.” Nih.Gov, 2016, https://www.niaid.nih.gov/research/neglected-tropical-diseases. Accessed 15 July 2026.

“CDC - Parasites.” Www.Cdc.Gov, 28 Jan. 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/. Accessed 13 July 2026.

“Diagnosis and Treatment.” Who.Int, 2015, https://www.who.int/teams/control-of-neglected-tropical-diseases/lymphatic-filariasis. Accessed 15 July 2026.

Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board