Scottish research hope on fatal diseases

Published on 31/07/2012 00:00

Scientists say they have found what causes severe side-effects in medication used to treat potentially fatal diseases in some of the world’s poorest regions.

Researchers at the universities of St Andrews and Edinburgh hope their discovery will result in new treatments for parasitic diseases within a few years.

Treatments for illnesses such as African sleeping sickness and Chagas disease, known as 
5-nitrofurans, can have side-effects which often see patients stop taking the medication.

Now an alternative drug combination which could be more effective and have fewer side-effects is being proposed.

Current treatments have changed little in 60 years.