Tropical medicine

Tropical Medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with health issues that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or prove more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions.

Overview

Tropical medicine is an interdisciplinary field involving epidemiology, parasitology, microbiology, public health, and clinical medicine. It is often associated with poverty and less developed regions, as the issues it addresses are often prevalent in the tropics and subtropics, where a large proportion of the world's poorest people live.

History

The field of tropical medicine was formally established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, during the period of European colonialism. Institutions such as the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine were founded to study and treat diseases encountered by colonial officials in foreign lands.

Diseases and Conditions

Tropical medicine covers a wide range of diseases and health conditions. These include malaria, dengue fever, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, leprosy, schistosomiasis, and lymphatic filariasis, among others. Many of these diseases are caused by parasites and pathogens that thrive in warm, humid conditions.

Treatment and Prevention

Treatment and prevention strategies in tropical medicine can vary greatly depending on the specific disease or condition. These can range from vaccination and antibiotic therapy to vector control and improvements in sanitation and hygiene.

Research and Training

Research in tropical medicine is often focused on developing new treatments and prevention strategies for tropical diseases, as well as understanding their epidemiology and impact on affected populations. Training in tropical medicine often involves a combination of classroom learning and fieldwork in a tropical or subtropical region.

See Also

• Neglected tropical diseases
• Travel medicine
• Global health