Neglected Tropical Diseases

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a widespread category of communicable illnesses that thrive in tropical and subtropical environments. More than a billion people are affected by these illnesses, which annually drain billions of dollars from developing nations' economies. The most severely impacted populations are those who lack access to basic sanitation, live in poverty, and are in close proximity to disease vectors, domestic animals, and livestock. The World Health Organization (WHO) is a United Nations department focusing on public health issues. NTDs pose a significant threat to public health both globally and in India. Lymphatic filariasis (LF), Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), Rabies, Soil-Transmitted Helminthic Infections (STH), and Dengue are the principal parasitic and associated infections that the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). These neglected diseases represent a concern to millions of underprivileged Indians who live in deplorable conditions. The current chapter examines the common NTDs in India, their prevalence, the state of control strategies, and obstacles and prospects for NTD eradication.