Collateral Benefits of Preventive Chemotherapy — Expanding the War on Neglected Tropical Diseases Peter J
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by LSTM Online Archive The NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL of MEDICINE Perspective Collateral Benefits of Preventive Chemotherapy — Expanding the War on Neglected Tropical Diseases Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D., Alan Fenwick, Ph.D., and David H. Molyneux, D.Sc. Collateral Benefits of Preventive Chemotherapy he collateral and extended effects of preven- nearly 15 years after mass drug tive chemotherapy, many of which were un- administration for NTDs was first proposed, the existence of such Tanticipated, have reduced disease burdens collateral benefits can be verified and saved lives on a scale that appears to have ex- (see table). In an Australian aboriginal ceeded the intended impact on in the disease burden and disabil- community, a single dose of iver- seven neglected tropical diseases ity-adjusted life years (DALYs, or mectin (200 μg per kilogram of (NTDs) — the three major soil- lost years of healthy life) — as body weight) delivered in two transmitted helminth infections much as a 46% decrease in DALYs community mass drug adminis- (ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hook- — attributable to the seven NTDs, trations 12 months apart not only worm infection), schistosomiasis, allowing some countries to achieve prevented ascariasis, trichuriasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocercia- their elimination targets for tra- and hookworm infections, but also sis, and trachoma. choma, lymphatic filariasis, and significantly reduced the preva- The concept of integrated pro- onchocerciasis. Moreover, it has lence of strongyloidiasis. A simi- grams of mass drug administra- led to cost savings for the world’s lar effect on strongyloidiasis was tion (also referred to as preventive poorest people, by reducing cata- achieved in Cambodia with a sin- chemotherapy) was first proposed strophic health expenditures.1 gle mass ivermectin administra- in the early 2000s, and such in- Scientists and public health ex- tion.
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