Tropical medicine focuses on preventing and treating medical conditions found in tropical regions and developing countries, including diseases like malaria and cholera. Specialists may work in developing countries or in developed nations dealing with periodic outbreaks. The term “tropical medicine” is controversial as these diseases can exist in non-tropical climates.
Tropical medicine is a branch of medicine dedicated to the study, prevention, and treatment of medical conditions often found in tropical regions and developing countries. Specialists in the field of tropical medicine can focus their studies and work on the treatment of so-called tropical diseases such as malaria, cholera and Ebola. While these conditions may not necessarily be caused by tropical climates, as many were prevalent in countries with different climates prior to modernization, they remain a significant concern in the developing world. Tropical medicine practitioners may work in developing countries or may practice in developed nations.
In developing countries, children and adults regularly die or are disabled from widespread conditions due to poor sanitation, inadequate plumbing systems and waste management, as well as lack of access to health care and education. For example, the spread of various bacteria, parasites, and viruses through contaminated water can lead to chronic diarrhea, which can be fatal in children, the elderly, and those with existing health problems. Some of these parasites and bacteria, such as T. gondii, can also have a negative effect on the fetuses of infected pregnant women. Tropical medicine and disaster medicine can often overlap when natural or man-made disasters strike third world countries, straining healthcare resources.
Some tropical medicine practitioners operate within industrialized nations. They are needed to deal with periodic outbreaks of tropical diseases in their home country, work in scientific research institutes and can specialize in travel medicine. Travel medicine addresses the health issues of travelers who may be exposed to unknown diseases, parasites and viruses while travelling. Travel medicine physicians may be called upon to provide education and preventive care to travelers prior to departure, and may need to treat travelers who become infected while away from home. Because many physicians in developed nations may be unfamiliar with tropical diseases, a consultation with a tropical medicine specialist can be crucial in treating a patient.
There is some controversy regarding the use of the term tropical medicine. Since tropical diseases can exist and spread in non-tropical climates, the failure to control or eradicate these diseases is often the result of a lack of financial and technological resources, as well as an adequate social policy. While temperature and humidity can exacerbate these conditions, climate isn’t the only distinguishing feature of tropical diseases. As a result, some now refer to tropical medicine as third world medicine.
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