Preventive chemotherapy and the fight against neglected tropical diseases

Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2012 Feb;10(2):237-42. doi: 10.1586/eri.11.165.

Abstract

Preventive chemotherapy is the public health strategy recommended by the WHO against a set of neglected tropical diseases that includes four groups of helminth infections (lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis) and one chlamydial (trachoma) infection. This article presents the characteristics of preventive chemotherapy interventions directed against each disease targeted by this strategy and provides an update on the status of their implementation worldwide.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / administration & dosage
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Chemoprevention
  • Helminthiasis / parasitology
  • Helminthiasis / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / parasitology
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / prevention & control*
  • Neglected Diseases / microbiology
  • Neglected Diseases / parasitology
  • Neglected Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Public Health
  • Soil / parasitology
  • Trachoma / microbiology
  • Trachoma / prevention & control*
  • Tropical Medicine

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Soil