In the April 2012 issue of PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, a peer-reviewed access journal published by the Public Library of Science, the Disease Reference Group on Helminth Infections (DRG4) compiled an outline of compelling research and development for the control and elimination of helminth diseases of humans.
Helminth diseases are caused by parasitic worms that can be classified as either nematodes (roundworms), cestodes (tapeworms) or trematodes (flatworms). They can produce a wide range of symptoms including abdominal pain, anemia, coughing, dehydration, diarrhea, nausea, and skin symptoms. Helminth diseases include ascariasis,hookworm, lymphatic filariasis, Onchocerciasis trichuriasis and schistosomiasis. More than half of the world’s population is at risk of helminthiases, and hundreds of millions of people are currently infected with one or more helminth diseases. These diseases are associated with low work productivity, slow socioeconomic development, and ultimately contribute to the cycle of poverty.
DRG4 is part of an independent “think tank” of international experts, established and funded by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), to identify key research priorities through the review of research evidence and input from stakeholder consultations.
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