Types of Tropical Diseases

Every year, tropical locations serve as ideal vacation spots for millions of tourists. Although beautiful, tropical countries are breeding grounds for numerous diseases. According to the Stanford Program on International and Cross Cultural Education (SPICE), approximately 500 million people are infected with malaria each year. Every year, 1 million of these 500 million people die from malaria, just one of several diseases prevalent in the tropics. Disease is a serious danger for both tropical populations and tourists who visit these countries.

Types of Diseases

• Disease is common on tropical islands.

  People who visit or live in the tropics are susceptible to numerous diseases. According to "What Are Tropical Diseases?" an article from fountia.com, the World Health Organization (WHO) focuses most of its efforts on the following 10 tropical diseases: African trypanosomiasis, chagas disease, dengue fever, leishmaniasis, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, malaria, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis and tuberculosis.

  According to the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, bacteria, viruses and parasites are the main organisms that cause tropical diseases. Contaminated water and food sources spread diseases among tropical populations and tourists. Tropical diseases are also transmitted by insects, such as mosquitoes, and through contact with a person infected by disease. Most tropical infections attack a person's eyes or skin.

Prevalence of Disease Among Impoverished Communities

• Diseases have a devastating impact on both local populations and tourists.

  People who live in tropical locations, as well as tourists, are in constant danger of contracting disease. The WHO claims that impoverished communities are the most susceptible to tropical disease. According to a May 2008 report by the WHO, of the 2.7 billion poorest people in the world, 1.2 billion are affected by tropical disease. People living in poor communities have neither the access to medical care nor the sanitary measures needed to combat these deadly diseases.

Preventive Measures

• Doctors have adopted a number of different methods for treating tropical diseases.

  Doctors around the world have studied tropical diseases and adopted several methods for treating infected people. Doctors use medications and waste management and sanitation plans to prevent the spread of disease. Pharmaceutical companies, the World Bank and governments around the world have donated medications and money to help treat people affected by tropical diseases. Tropical communities have also benefited from the use of mosquito nets, increased access to insect repellent and sanitary measures, including washing hands and dishes and boiling water to kill infectious bacteria.