Tropical Medicine & Surgery

Tropical Diseases: A Comprehensive Overview of Communicable and Non-Communicable Illnesses

Lucinda Steyve^* Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
^*Correspondence: Lucinda Steyve, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Email:

Received: 10-Jan-2023, Manuscript No. TPMS-23-20647; Editor assigned: 13-Jan-2023, Pre QC No. TPMS-23-20647(PQ); Reviewed: 27-Jan-2023, QC No. TPMS-23-20647; Revised: 03-Feb-2023, Manuscript No. TPMS-23-20647(R); Published: 10-Feb-2023, DOI: 10.35248/2329-9088.23.11.291

Description

In the tropics, there are both infectious and non-communicable diseases that are the focus of tropical medicine. The majority of infectious illnesses are indigenous to the tropics and cause substantial mortality and morbidity. Malaria, TB, and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/AIDS are the three main illnesses in the tropics. Tropical medicine deals with uncommon and exotic parasite and bacterial illnesses in addition to a wide range of non-communicable conditions such vitamin deficiencies, snakebite, scorpion sting, and bacterium cardiac and neurologic symptoms. Hence, this subject also includes a good deal of internal medicine in addition to microbiology, virology, epidemiology, and parasitology.

A group of 17 neglected tropical diseases, or "NTDs," including leishmaniasis, elephantiasis, trachoma, Chagas disease, Buruli ulcer, hookworm infection, and schistosomiasis, as well as HIV/ AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, are studied in tropical medicine. Other major tropical diseases include HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Related nutritional illnesses as well as certain non-communicable diseases are included in this field.

The term "tropical diseases" relates to communicable diseases that flourish in hot, humid climates and includes all diseases that develop in the tropics. The main causes of the spread of infectious illnesses in these areas are environmental and biological conditions that support a rich diversity of pathogens, hosts, and vectors.

While attempts at controlling these diseases are defeat, social factors also contribute to the spread of infections. Malaria, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, and African trypanosomiasis are examples of tropical diseases.

Both infectious and non-modifiable diseases fall within the category of tropical diseases. By definition, communicable diseases are illnesses that can spread from humans and are further divided into those brought on by bacteria, viruses, protozoa, parasites, and fungi. Non-communicable diseases, such as malignancies, cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and chronic respiratory illnesses, are conditions brought on by genetic and lifestyle factors. Moreover, management issues arise from snakebite, scorpion sting, and marine and terrestrial envenomations.

It is significant to highlight that due to the hardships of deprivation in the tropics, dangerous eating behaviors are frequently tolerated, which increases illness rates among people. Along with acting as carriers of infectious diseases, air and water pollution can cause a wide range of pulmonary, gastrointestinal, skin, and neurological illnesses. Even though it is hard to list all the microorganisms that cause disease in the tropics, treating a patient there or even a traveler who has returned can benefit by using a symptomatic approach and a region-by-region chance of common tropical diseases.

Role of tropical medicine

Although a significant part of global health, tropical medicine focuses more on the particular tropical infections that affect low-resource areas. It pays close attention to the pathogenic organisms, their vectors, how they spread (their epidemiology), how to treat and prevent them, and even how to create new diagnostics, treatments, vaccines, and insecticides to combat tropical diseases.

A variety of disciplines are used in tropical medicine. The fight against tropical diseases necessitates experts in a variety of medical fields, including public health. In order to stop the spread of tropical illnesses and lessen their effects on a local and global scale, epidemiologists, community health workers, and public health educators collaborate with doctors, microbiologists, as well as other healthcare professionals.

In order to prevent and control disease outbreaks, epidemiologists look into their causes and risk factors. In addition to educating the public on the risk of infectious illnesses and advising community and government officials on disease prevention measures, public health professionals also provide essential educational services.