01700nas a2200217   4500000000100000008004100001653002300042653001300065653001100078653001000089653001900099100001500118700001500133700001200148245004300160856007800203300001300281490000700294520116700301022001401468       2016                            d10aNeglected Diseases10aMycetoma10aHumans10aFungi10aActinobacteria1 aZijlstra E1 aSande WW J1 aFahal A00aMycetoma: A long journey from neglect.  uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4721668/pdf/pntd.0004244.pdf  ae00042440 v103 a<p>Even in the tropical medicine community, mentioning mycetoma often raises eyebrows and requires further explanation. This condition has all the ingredients of neglect: it affects the poorest segment of the population in remote areas, the course of the disease is slow and chronic, and health services in the endemic areas do not have trained staff, adequate diagnostic tools, or treatment. There is uncertainty about the route of transmission, which contributes to lack of effective national control programs. The associated stigma has severe socioeconomic consequences: children drop out of school and their peer group, and young adults cannot finish their training or find a job or a partner. Patients are affected psychologically because of the lack of health services, the physical disability, and the lack of prospects, as the outcome of treatment is poor and often leads to amputation of the affected part [<a aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" class="bibr popnode tag_hotlink tag_tooltip" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4721668/#pntd.0004244.ref001" id="__tag_506372820" rid="pntd.0004244.ref001" role="button">1</a>].</p>
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