Tropical disease is a term used to describe illnesses that occur primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. The spelling of this word follows the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as "trɒpɪkəl dɪˈziːz". The stress in the word falls on the second syllable, "pi", and the final "e" remains silent. "Tropical" is pronounced with a short "o" sound, "trɒpɪkəl", and "disease" is pronounced with a long "e" sound, "dɪˈziːz." Awareness of tropical diseases is important for travel to these regions and for medical personnel treating affected patients.
Tropical disease refers to an infectious or non-infectious ailment that is primarily prevalent within the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. These diseases are commonly found in areas with warm, humid climates and are typically transmitted by various organisms such as parasites, bacteria, and viruses.
These diseases encompass a broad range of health issues that can affect humans and animals alike. They may be caused by vector-borne pathogens, including parasites carried by insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, and flies, or waterborne pathogens like bacteria and other microorganisms present in contaminated water sources.
Some well-known examples of tropical diseases include malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, Chikungunya, Zika virus, schistosomiasis, cholera, and African trypanosomiasis (also known as sleeping sickness). However, there are numerous other tropical diseases with varying symptoms, severity levels, and modes of transmission.
Tropical diseases are typically more prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas due to favorable climatic conditions and the presence of suitable vectors or hosts that facilitate disease transmission. Poverty, poor sanitation, inadequate healthcare systems, and limited access to healthcare resources also contribute to the burden of tropical diseases in these regions.
Preventive measures, such as vector control (e.g., mosquito nets, insecticides), proper sanitation, vaccination campaigns, and improved access to healthcare services, are crucial in reducing the incidence and impact of tropical diseases.
The word "tropical disease" can be broken down into two parts: "tropical" and "disease".
The term "tropical" comes from the Late Latin word "tropicus", which means "of or pertaining to the tropics". The Latin word itself was derived from the Greek word "tropikos", referring to the "turning point" or "a point of reference" related to the celestial equator. It was used to describe the region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, which are the latitudes where the sun can appear directly overhead at least once during the year.
The word "disease" originates from the Old French word "desaise", meaning "lack of ease" or "discomfort".