Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease (CD), considered one of the most important parasitic infections in Latin America. Between 25 and 90 million humans are at infection risk via at least one of multiple infection mechanisms. Under natural conditions, the principal transmissio...n modes are transplacental or via one of more than 140 hematophagous triatomine bugs (Reduviidae: Triatominae). Triatomines acquire the parasite from mammal reservoirs due to their obligate blood-feeding (albeit triatomines can also feed on non-reservoir vertebrates such as birds and reptiles). The disease burden for CD in the Latin America and Caribbean region, based on disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), is at least five times greater than that of malaria, and is approximately one-fifth that of HIV/AIDS. In recent decades, CD has extended to other continents outside natural reservoir or vector distributions due to human migration, with a minimum estimated 10 million individuals infected worldwide.
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This chapter discusses the antibacterial treatment of leprosy infections. Antibiotic treatment is
a key component of leprosy treatment, as it is vital to prevent the progression of the infection.
Treatment with rifampin and other antibiotics is highly effective and cures 98% of patients with
the ...leprosy infection. Furthermore, the relapse rate is very low, at about 1% over 5–10 years.
There is little M. leprae drug resistance in leprosy and few reports of multi-drug resistance (1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8). An antibiotic treatment may take months or years to produce clinical improvement,
especially in patients with an initial high bacterial index (BI).
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Sleeping sickness is controlled by case detection and treatment but this often only reaches less than 75% of the population. Vector control is capable of completely interrupting HAT transmission but is not used because of expense. We conducted a full scale field trial of a refined vector control tec...hnology. From preliminary trials we determined the number of insecticidal tiny targets required to control tsetse populations by more than 90%. We then carried out a full scale, 500 km2 field trial covering two HAT foci in Northern Uganda (overall target density 5.7/km2). In 12 months tsetse populations declined by more than 90%. A mathematical model suggested that a 72% reduction in tsetse population is required to stop transmission in those settings. The Ugandan census suggests population density in the HAT foci is approximately 500 per km2. The estimated cost for a single round of active case detection (excluding treatment), covering 80% of the population, is US$433,333 (WHO figures). One year of vector control organised within country, which can completely stop HAT transmission, would cost US$42,700. The case for adding this new method of vector control to case detection and treatment is strong. We outline how such a component could be organised.
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Diabetes mellitus is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Scotland and worldwide, with an increasing prevalence. In 2009 there were around 228,000 people registered as having diabetes in Scotland, an increase of 3.6% from the preceding year. This increase relates, in part, to the increasing a...ge of the population, an increase in obesity and also perhaps to increasing survival of those with diabetes.
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The document "Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus" provides comprehensive guidelines for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults. It emphasizes the importance of individualized glycemic targets, lifestyle interventions like diet and exercise, and the use of medicatio...ns such as metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, and GLP1 receptor agonists to manage blood sugar levels and reduce long-term complications. The document also discusses the screening and management of comorbidities such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetic complications like retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy. It highlights the role of diabetes self-management education and support in improving adherence to treatment and patient outcomes. The guidelines are evidence-based and aim to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with type 2 diabetes.
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The article "Under- and over-diagnosis of COPD: a global perspective" reviews the worldwide variation in the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and issues related to its misdiagnosis. It highlights that COPD is under-diagnosed due to factors such as limited access to spiromet...ry and variable diagnostic criteria, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Conversely, over-diagnosis often results from reliance on non-standard criteria or inadequate spirometry use. The article discusses key risk factors, including age, gender, exposure to pollutants, and comorbidities, and emphasizes the need for standardized diagnostic practices to better address and manage COPD globally.
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The Atlas of Palliative Care in the Eastern Mediterranean Region is the first systematic attempt to assess the status of resources, activities, and needs of palliative care in the region. It provides a comparative picture of the current state of palliative care in simple and clear graphics, utilisin...g texts, tables, figures and maps that reproduce information given by national palliative care leaders in the Eastern Mediterranean. This information is essential for the appropriate planning of the development of palliative care for this region.
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The mhGAP Humanitarian Intervention Guide (mhGAP-HIG) Training of Health-Care Providers manual is designed to guide facilitators in training non-specialist health care providers to manage mental, ne...urological and substance use conditions in humanitarian emergency settings.
The manual covers suggested training schedules, learning objectives, and tips for planning and facilitating the training. It also includes step-by-step training modules for different conditions covered in the mhGAP Humanitarian Intervention Guide (mhGAP-HIG).
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Ahead of World Malaria Day, the WHO Global Malaria Programme published a new operational strategy outlining its priorities and key activities up to 2030 to help change the trajectory of malaria trends, with a view to achieving the global malaria targets. The strategy outlines 4 strategic objectives ...where WHO will focus its efforts, including developing norms and standards, introducing new tools and innovation, promoting strategic information for impact, and providing technical leadership of the global malaria response.
In recent years, progress towards critical targets of the WHO Global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030 has stalled, particularly in countries that carry a high burden of the disease. In 2022 there were an estimated 608 000 malaria-related deaths and 249 million new malaria cases globally, with young children in Africa bearing the brunt of the disease.
Millions of people continue to miss out on the services they need to prevent, detect, and treat malaria. Additionally, progress in global malaria control has been hampered by resource constraints, humanitarian crises, climate change and biological threats such as drug and insecticide resistance.
“A shift in the global malaria response is urgently needed across the entire malaria ecosystem to prevent avoidable deaths and achieve the targets of the WHO global malaria strategy,” notes Dr Daniel Ngamije, Director of the Global Malaria Programme. “This shift should seek to address the root causes of the disease and be centred around accessibility, efficiency, sustainability, equity and integration.”
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Series on Disability-Inclusive Development | Fachpublikationsreihe Behinderung · Inklusion · Entwicklung
Der Praxisleitfaden »Gefluechtete LGBTI-Menschen« soll Asyl- und Migrationsfachpersonen im Umgang mit LGBTI-Asylsuchenden unterstuetzen – das sind Menschen, die aufgrund ihrer sexuellen Orientierung, Geschlechtsidentitaet, Geschlechtsmerkmale und/oder ihres Geschlechtsausdrucks aus ihrer Heimat ...gefluechtet sind. Diese Asylsuchenden sind besonders verletzlich und auch in der Schweiz leider noch immer mit Diskriminierung konfrontiert. Die Broschuere richtet sich aber auch an Mitarbeitende in den LGBTI-Organisationen, um die Integration der Gefluechteten in die lokalen LGBTI-Communities zu erleichtern, sowie an alle Menschen, die sich fuer dieses Thema interessieren.
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Epidemiologischen Bulletin 32/2021, 27 Juli 2021.Systematisches Testen auf SARS-CoV-2 in Kitas und Schulen kann einen wichtigen Beitrag leisten, um das dortige Infektionsgeschehen besser beurteilen zu können und das Übertragungsrisiko von Infektionen zu reduzieren. Die im Epidemiologischen Bulleti...n 32/2021 veröffentlichte Studie stellt die Validierung der Lolli-Methode und die Implementierung des Testkonzeptes in 32 Kölner Kitas im Zeitraum September 2020 bis März 2021 vor. Das Testkonzept Lolli-Methode basiert auf der Kombination einer einfachen Probenentnahme und anschließender PCR-Pooltestung. Es wird seit April 2021 an allen Kitas und Schulen der Stadt Köln und seit Mai 2021 an allen Grund- und Förderschulen in Nordrhein-Westfalen durchgeführt.
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Der extrem umfangreich recherchierte und lesenswerte IPPNW-Report beleuchtet die gesund-heitlichen und humanitären Folgen der deutschen Abschiebepraxis der vergangenen Jahre. Die Publikation soll zudem gezielt Wissen vermitteln, wie Gutachten besser verfasst werden kön-nen und welche Erfahrungen d...ie Ärzt*innen gesammelt haben im Zusammenhang mit Abschiebungen.
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Eine Leitlinie “Long-/Post-COVID-Syndrom" für Betroffene, Angehörige, nahestehende und
pflegende Personen, die sich auf eine ärztliche Leitlinie stützt („S1-Leitlinie Long-/Post-COVID“
der AWMF; Registernummer 020 - 027)
Erste Ausgabe September 2021
Dieses Fachdossier stellt mehrere Facetten des Themas Kinderschutz vor: Was bedeutet es, Kinder vor Gewalt und Vernachlässigung zu schützen?
Welche Gefahren gibt es, wie kann man ihnen begegnen? Und wie kann Kinderschutz wirksam und nachhaltig umgesetzt werden? Wissenschaftler
und Wissenschaftle...rinnen, Fachleute und Projektpartnerinnen und -partner stellen unterschiedliche Aspekte des Themas in Deutschland und anderen
Ländern vor.
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