Keys for Tropical Medicine 1

Overview of Tropical Medicine

Definition of the tropics

• Between the Tropic of Cancer (north latitude 23°26′) and the Tropic of Capricorn (south latitude 23°26′)
• Covers 40% of land surfaces and 40% of population

Top 3 causes of death in LMICs, HICs and worldwide in 2016

*Bold names are communicable diseases

• Worldwide

1. Ischemic heart disease
2. Stroke
3. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

• LMICs

1. Lower respiratory infections
2. Diarrhea
3. Ischemic heart disease

• HICs

1. Ischemic heart disease
2. Stroke
3. Alzheimer and other dementias

Changes of top 10 causes of death worldwide from 2010 to 2016

• Tuberculosis ranked down to the 10th in 2016 from the 6th in 2010
• HIV/AIDS ranked down out of 10 in 2016 from the 7th in 2010