NEWS
<< continued from page 1
worldwide and more than 56 million
people received antibiotics in
2015 alone.
• Visceral leishmaniasis: in 2015 the
target for elimination was achieved
in 82% of sub-districts in India, 97%
of sub-districts in Bangladesh, and in
100% of districts in Nepal.
• Only 12 reported human deaths were
attributable to rabies in the WHO
Region of the Americas in 2015,
bringing the region close to its
target of eliminating rabies in humans
by 2015.
However, the report highlights
the need to further scale up action in
other areas. “Further gains in the fight
against neglected tropical diseases
will depend on wider progress towards
the Sustainable Development Goals,”
said Dr Dirk Engels, Director of the
Department of Control of Neglected
Tropical Diseases. Meeting global
targets for water and sanitation will
be key. WHO estimates that 2.4 billion
people still lack basic sanitation
facilities such as toilets and latrines,
while more than 660 million continue to
drink water from 'unimproved' sources,
such as surface water.
Meanwhile, global concern about the
recent outbreaks of Zika virus disease,
and its associated complications, has
re-energised efforts to improve vector
control. This month the World Health
Assembly will review proposals for a
new Global vector control response.
There are also brighter prospects to
prioritise cross-sectoral collaboration
to promote veterinary public health.
AN OVERVIEW OF NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
Buruli ulcer: debilitating skin infection causing
severe destruction of the skin, bone and soft tissue.
Chagas disease: infection transmitted
through contact with vector insects, ingestion of
contaminated food, infected blood transfusion,
congenital transmission, organ transplantation or
laboratory accidents.
Dengue: mosquito-borne viral disease causing
flu-like illness. Occasionally develops into a lethal
complication called severe dengue.
Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease):
nematode infection transmitted by drinking-water
contaminated with parasite-infected water fleas.
Echinococcosis: infection caused by larval stages
of tapeworms forming pathogenic cysts. Transmitted
to humans through ingestion of eggs, shed in faeces
of dogs and wild animals.
Endemic treponematoses (yaws): chronic
bacterial infection affecting mainly the skin and bone.
Foodborne trematodiases: infection acquired
by consuming fish, vegetables and crustaceans
contaminated with larval parasites.
Human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping
sickness): parasitic infection spread by bites of
tsetse flies. Almost 100% fatal without prompt
diagnosis and treatment.
Leishmaniases: transmitted through the bites
of infected female sandflies. In its most severe
(visceral) form, it attacks the internal organs. The
most prevalent (cutaneous) form causes face ulcers,
disfiguring scars and disability.
Leprosy: caused by infection mainly of the skin,
peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory
tract and eyes.
Lymphatic filariasis: Infection transmitted by
mosquitoes causing abnormal enlargement of
limbs and genitals from adult worms inhabiting and
reproducing in the lymphatic system.
Mycetoma: debilitating, disabling bacterial/fungal
skin infection thought to be caused by the inoculation
of fungi or bacteria into the subcutaneous tissue.
Onchocerciasis (river blindness): parasitic eye
and skin disease, transmitted by the bite of
infected blackflies. Causes severe itching and
eye lesions, leading to visual impairment and
permanent blindness.
Rabies: viral disease transmitted to humans through
the bites of infected dogs. Invariably fatal once
symptoms develop.
Schistosomiasis (bilharziasis): larval worm
infection. Transmission occurs when larval forms
released by freshwater snails penetrate human skin
during contact with infested water.
Soil-transmitted helminthiases: group of
intestinal helminth infections transmitted through
soil contaminated by human faeces.
Taeniasis and neurocysticercosis: infection by
adult tapeworms in human intestines; cysticercosis
occurs when humans ingest tapeworm eggs that
develop as larvae in tissues.
Trachoma: infection transmitted through direct
contact with eye or nasal discharge. Causes
irreversible corneal opacities and blindness.
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INFLUENCE PEOPLE …
Medical Chronicle extends its congratulations to Prof Glenda
Gray, who has been named in TIME magazine’s Top 100 list of
the most influential people in the world.
8th SA AIDS
CONFERENCE
ICC Durban
www.saaids.com
j
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vitamins for combatting the condition
on page 31.
In Medicinal use of Pelargonium
sidoides, we explore this medicinal
plant and its use in upper respiratory
tract infections (page 51).
Keep up to date with the latest
industry happenings in our News
section. Roxann van Rugge, legal
advisor, tackles the important
topic of Confidentiality in your medical
practice, page 18.
2017
`
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She is listed for her contribution
in leading a team of researchers
on who carried out the first HIV
vaccine efficacy trial. The ongoing
HIV-vaccine study is the largest ever
conducted in SA.
Prof Gray has pioneered advances
in preventing mother-to-child
transmission of HIV, which saved
thousands of lives.
You will find two CPD-
accredited articles in this issue of
Medical Chronicle (3 points each).
Osteoporosis is a leading contributor
of fractures worldwide, especially
in women. We look at the important
13-15 June
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The Long Walk to Prevention:
Every Voice Counts
Thirty two years into the HIV/AIDS epidemic and 23 years
into South Africa’s democracy SA still has 288000 new
HIV infections each year. Only 60% of people who are HIV
positive know their status. We have already been on a
long walk with many battles won, but we need to work
harder to stop this epidemic, we
need to walk together to ensure that
22 MAY 2017
our most important asset, young Closing date for
men and women are not being pre-conference
infected, that they and others take
registration
their treatment and that everyone is
treated with dignity. This, the 8th 12 JUNE 2017
South African AIDS conference
On-site
promises to be one that focuses on
registrations
new ideas and brings people
together to begin to end AIDS.
Tel: +27 12 816 9149
Happy reading!
Editor: Claire Rush McMillan
[email protected]
WWW.SAAIDS.COM
MEDICAL CHRONICLE | MAY 2017 5