What is a tropical disease?
A tropical disease is an infection-transmitted disease that occurs in tropical areas. These include Central and South America, Africa, Southeast Asia and the northern part of Australia. Tropical diseases are often transmitted by pathogens that enter the body through a mosquito bite, for example.
Typical symptoms of many tropical diseases are fever, diarrhea and various types of skin rash. Before traveling to a tropical area, it is therefore always advisable to find out about possible tropical diseases and vaccinations against them. Also interesting: Diarrhea in Egypt
These tropical diseases exist
Among the most common tropical diseases: malaria cholera tuberculosis dengue fever leishmaniasis yellow fever elephantiasis amoebic dysentery
- Malaria
- Cholera
- Tuberculosis
- Dengue Fever
- Leishmaniasis
- Yellow Fever
- Elephantiasis
- Amoebic dysentery
Malaria
Malaria is a tropical disease whose pathogens are transmitted via the so-called Anopheles mosquito. The range of symptoms of malaria is very wide. It can cause nausea, vomiting, changes in consciousness and jaundice.
In addition, changes in the blood typical of malaria occur, resulting in anemia and increased accumulation of the pathogens in the blood, which is helpful for diagnosis. Treatment includes various drugs, such as chloroquine. Some of these can also be taken in advance as prophylaxis. The most effective protection against malaria is against Anopheles mosquitoes.
Yellow Fever
The virus that causes the tropical disease yellow fever is transmitted via the yellow fever mosquito. 3-6 days after infection, a fever with chills, headache, muscle aches and nausea suddenly appears. After about 3-4 days, the symptoms subside for 1-2 days.
After that, very severe symptoms occur, including high fever with bleeding of the skin and mucous membranes. In addition, there is often bloody vomiting and blood in the stool. The liver is also affected in this phase and, in addition to jaundice, acute liver failure can even occur. There is no treatment against yellow fever, but there is a vaccination.