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Neglected Tropical Diseases and Conditions of the Nervous System pp 3–19Cite as

Overview of Neglected Tropical Diseases and Conditions of the Nervous System: Past, Present and Perspectives

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Abstract

Neglected tropical diseases consist of a group of infectious diseases with the unifying features of being poverty-related, prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, and absent from the public health agenda in wealthy countries. In the same world regions, there are “neglected conditions” which also have a negative impact on health. The nervous system involvement in neglected tropical diseases and conditions is an especially neglected field of investigation. Yet, neurological impairments in neglected tropical diseases and conditions constitute together a major category of invalidating disorders, which cause profound changes in nervous system function, often associated with severe sequels or late-onset disturbances. Here are highlighted (1) infectious diseases of the nervous system that nowadays, with the advances of vaccines and antibiotic therapy, are becoming forgotten (2), those belonging to still ravaging neglected tropical diseases, and (3) knowledge perspectives. It is time for clinical and basic neuroscience to be at the forefront and take up the fight against neglected tropical diseases and conditions, and provide means for better management of the patients.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134, Verona, Italy

    Marina Bentivoglio

  2. Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Escola Paulista de Medicina/Universidade, Federal de São Paulo (EPM/UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil

    Esper A. Cavalheiro

  3. Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Krister Kristensson

  4. Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Health Science, University of Nairobi, 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya

    Nilesh B. Patel

Authors
  1. Marina Bentivoglio
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  2. Esper A. Cavalheiro
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  3. Krister Kristensson
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  4. Nilesh B. Patel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marina Bentivoglio .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Verona, Italy

    Marina Bentivoglio

  2. Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Escola Paulista de Medicina/Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM/UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil

    Esper A. Cavalheiro

  3. Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    Krister Kristensson

  4. Department of Physiology School of MedicineCollege of Health Science, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

    Nilesh B. Patel

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Bentivoglio, M., Cavalheiro, E.A., Kristensson, K., Patel, N.B. (2014). Overview of Neglected Tropical Diseases and Conditions of the Nervous System: Past, Present and Perspectives. In: Bentivoglio, M., Cavalheiro, E., Kristensson, K., Patel, N. (eds) Neglected Tropical Diseases and Conditions of the Nervous System. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8100-3_1

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