The Unknown Killer

The Unknown Killer

1.6 billion. That is the number of people in impoverished areas who have been affected by NTDs (The End Fund), also known as Neglected Tropical Diseases. In Africa, these parasitic infections are very common, leading to widespread suffering. While these diseases are a serious issue, and many of them have relatively easy treatments, the world tends to be unresponsive, due to a lack of awareness. The real questions here are what are some of the NTDs, and what is keeping us from solving our issues?

One of these NTDs is known as sleeping sickness, or trypanosomiasis, which causes extreme lethargy, leading to a coma. It can be treated, and the diagnosis isn’t difficult, but it can only be effectively treated if caught before the disease becomes too severe. For those who live far away from medical care, it is unlikely for the individual in need to receive treatment before they fall into the deep sleep, often leading to death. The treatment is simple, developed by Louise Pearce and Wade Hamptom Brown, called tryparsamide, which was based off of an isolated compound used to treat Syphilis (UXL Science). This medication has helped numerous people who have suffered from sleeping sickness, but many untreated individuals still remain.

In addition to this, Hookworm is a relatively simple, yet dangerous parasite in rural areas in Africa. These worms are spread through a lack of hygiene, caused primarily poor bathing habits or contaminated water sources. One the parasite is ingested, it grows, and moves to feed off of the host in the small intestine. This can cause extreme discomfort, often leading to vomiting and forcing whoever is ill to become bedridden. Once again, the treatment process is fairly simple, although it requires up to three weeks for the drug treatment to work. Despite this, many people do not have access to those technologies where they live, and they must simply wait for the disease to pass. In this process, individuals who already live in impoverished areas can become more malnourished, and can have a difficult time when trying to recover from the disease.

A possible explanation for the reluctance to aid in the cause is seen in Weiss’ piece focusing on stigma surrounding fatal diseases. The author uses leprosy as an example: “‘He attributed the social stigma of leprosy to a ‘fear of the loathsome manifestations of the disease’ and ‘superstitions which call down a curse from some deity’” (Weiss, Mitchell). This could play a part in the NTD issue, as well. There is a general lack of awareness for the diseases, and most people who hear of them tend to shy away from the problem, out of fear or assumption that someone else will take responsibility, This will only continue a pattern of ignorance in society. However, if people are able to break this stigma, then they may realize that there are simple and effective ways to aid in the cause. Staying informed can make all the difference in the world, and can hopefully help in working towards lowering the 1.6 billion who are affected.

Works Cited

Bulloch, Gib. "NTD Overview." The End Fund. The End Fund, 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2016.

"Sleeping Sickness." UXL Science. Student Resources in Context. Detroit: UXL, 1 June 2008. Web. 4 Mar. 2016.

Weiss, Mitchell G. "Stigma and the Social Burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases - ProQuest." PLoS. Ed. Juerg Utzinger. PLoS, 14 May 2008. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.