In the face of unprecedented global health challenges, the international academic community continues to explore targeted interventions to mitigate the impact of malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) on children and adolescents. A recent study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, titled “Global Burden of Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases in Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from 1990 to 2019,” provides a comprehensive analysis of the disease burden among individuals aged 0–19 years. Conducted by Professor Zhou’s research team at the School of Global Health, Chinese Centre for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, the study utilizes data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019, covering 204 countries and regions, to inform public health policies and control strategies.
The findings reveal that the burden of malaria and NTDs among children and adolescents remains severe. In 2019 alone, approximately 195.6 million cases were recorded globally, resulting in 43.9 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). While incidence rates showed an increasing trend before 2005, they declined thereafter, yet significant regional disparities persist. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to bear the highest age-standardized DALY rate, whereas high-income regions report the lowest burden. Notably, the Andean Latin America and South Asia regions demonstrated substantial reductions in disease burden. The study also highlights that low-Social Development Index (SDI) regions experience the greatest burden, with children under five years old accounting for over 93% of malaria-related DALYs. Furthermore, while infection rates were slightly higher in females, the overall DALY distribution remained balanced between genders.
The study underscores the importance of sustaining existing malaria and NTD control efforts and expanding intervention measures in low-SDI regions. Achieving effective disease control and eventual elimination will require international collaboration, strengthened primary healthcare services, and targeted support for vulnerable populations.
The study’s first author is Dr. Jin-Xin Zheng, a postdoctoral researcher atSchool of Global Health, Chinese Centre for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Corresponding authors include Dr. Shi-Zhu Li, Dr. Xiao-Nong Zhou, and Dr. Xin-Yu Feng. This research was conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research),and other institutions. The study was supported by several major funding programs, including the National Key R&D Program of China (2021YFC2300800, 2021YFC2300804), the International Joint Laboratory on Tropical Diseases Control in Greater Mekong Subregion (No. 21410750200), Shanghai’s Three-Year Public Health Action Plan (2023–2025) (GWVI-11.2-XD33, GWVI-11.1-12), and the Hainan Key R&D Program (ZDYF2024SHFZ083).
