Neuroinfectious Diseases

Disparities across social, economic, educational, and environmental realms of health significantly impact illness outcomes, and is highly relevant to infections of the nervous system. Neglected tropical diseases, neurological effects of HIV and syphilis, and emerging pathogens impact vulnerable populations differentially. These disparities are the result of current, evolving, and historical systemic inequities that contribute to the preventable differences in healthcare access and care often experienced by vulnerable communities. In this chapter we highlight clinical cases in which each patient’s care of neurological infections was significantly affected by healthcare inequities. The profound influence of social determinants of health outlined in each of these cases emphasizes the continued to need to identify and address systematic and structural barriers that hinder the possibility of optimal health for all members of our global society.