TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Agents Used to Treat Parasitic Infections A1 - Moore, Thomas A. A2 - Jameson, J. Larry A2 - Fauci, Anthony S. A2 - Kasper, Dennis L. A2 - Hauser, Stephen L. A2 - Longo, Dan L. A2 - Loscalzo, Joseph Y1 - 2018 N1 - T2 - Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 20e AB - Parasitic infections continue to afflict more than half of the world’s population and impose a substantial health burden, particularly in underdeveloped nations, where they are most prevalent. The reach of some parasitic diseases, including malaria, has expanded over the past few decades as a result of factors such as deforestation, population shifts, global warming, and other climatic events. Although there have been significant advances in vaccine development and vector control, chemotherapy remains the single most effective means of controlling parasitic infections. Efforts to combat the spread of some diseases are hindered by the development and spread of drug resistance, the limited introduction of new antiparasitic agents, the proliferation of counterfeit medications, and, most recently, profiteering, which has dramatically increased the cost of once-affordable agents. However, there are good reasons to be optimistic. Ambitious global initiatives aimed at controlling or eliminating threats such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria have demonstrated successes. The ongoing efforts of multinational partnerships to address the substantial burden imposed by neglected tropical diseases have generated mechanisms to develop and deploy effective antiparasitic agents. In addition, the development of vaccines against several tropical diseases, including malaria, continues. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1160014440 ER -