What are Tropical Diseases?

The World Health Organization (WHO) focuses attention on the poor and developing regions of Americas, Asia and Africa. There are ten tropical diseases that WHO focuses on currently. The ten diseases are:

The World Health Organization (WHO) focuses attention on the poor and developing regions of Americas, Asia and Africa. There are ten tropical diseases that WHO focuses on currently. The ten diseases are:

African trypanosomiasis, chagas disease, dengue fever, leishmaniasis, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, malaria, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis and also tuberculosis. cholera, leprosy, tuberculosis and yellow fever are not only tropical diseases because they do occur elsewhere than just the tropics, they have a very high incidence in the tropics which is why they are included.

There are some occurrences of epidemics such as the Ebola hemorrhagic fever, and the Lassa fever or the Marburg virus which are not considered tropical diseases but do occur in the tropics in epidemic form. Besides Ebola other epidemics have been West Nile disease, Guinea Worm, and Mapucho hemorrhagic fever.

The consistent hot climate and large volume of rains creates the environment that breeds tropical disease. Tropical regions usually also have large reservoirs that are perfect breeding grounds for insects and other animal diseases that can then be transmitted to humans. The high temperatures of the tropics may favor pathogenic agents. The poor economic environment makes it difficult to combat or eliminate endemic tropical diseases.

American Society For Tropical Medicine And Hygiene In the emergency room they will use electrolyte replacement therapy to save the individual's life. The best way to prevent the spread of dengue fever is to eliminate the risks that mosquitoes pose by using insect repellent that contain DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Use protective clothing that includes long sleeves, long pants, socks and shoes. The Aedes mosquitoes usually bite during the day; it is imperative that you are especially careful to avoid mosquitoes during the day. You can also keep all unscreened windows and doors closed, spray screens with insect repellent, use a bedding net while sleeping and to eliminate all areas that mosquitoes can use to breed in such as standing water, containers with standing water such as birdbaths and discarded tires. American Society For Tropical Medicine And Hygiene

The greenhouse effect and increasing global temperatures also has an impact on the spread of tropical diseases.

Tropical diseases include eye diseases, skin diseases, insect-borne diseases, parasitic diseases and also infectious diseases. Common names categorized under tropical diseases are: leprosy, malaria, river blindness, schistosomiasis, sleeping sickness, tuberculosis, yellow fever, ringworm, and also chagas disease just to name a few.

One sixth of the world's population will have to personally deal with a tropical disease. Insects, parasites and vectors all cause tropical diseases. Neglected tropical diseases include Buruli ulcer, cholera, cysticercosis, guinea-worm disease, and food borne infections such as fascioliasis. Dengue is a vector-borne.

Tropical diseases can be controlled by medications, better living conditions and improved waste sanitation facilities. Programs that give nutritional support to those who live in areas hit by tropical diseases helps to strengthen the body's resistance to the effects of disease. Community-wide vaccination programs and medical treatment programs can make a difference. Getting these programs started is often difficult because of local resistance.

Using deet-containing insect repellent, and treating clothing with permethrin can prevent tropical diseases like malaria. Sleeping under a mosquito net is a must. Medications that are prophylactic in nature are used to ward off malaria and include mefloquine, chloroquine, proguanil and also quinine, and also qinghaosu.

Amebiasis can be prevented by following good hand washing techniques, using boiled or filtered water, and by cooking food well. It is also important to avoid eating fly- contaminated foods.

Giardiasis can also be avoided by using good hand washing technique and by boiling or filtering water, and also by cooking food well. It is also important to avoid anal-oral contact.

Schistosomiasis can be prevented if contaminated water (fresh water) is avoided and chlorinated water or seawater is used (lower risk). Bath water should be heated to at least 50 degrees C or 122 degrees F, for more than five minutes or allowed to stand for 3 days before using it.