ABSTRACT
The lung and airways are mucosal surfaces that are common sites for
infections (1). Although respiratory tract infections are a major cause of
morbidity and mortality worldwide (2), the tropics have certain unique
characteristics that have specific influence on the practice of pulmonary medicine in these regions (3,4). First, the high-temperature and high-
humidity climate and the general state of socio-economic underdevelopment
in many of the countries within the tropics provide an ideal environment for
the thriving of pathogenic microorganisms, their vectors, and intermediate
hosts. Second, the cultural and educational background of many of the peo-
ple living in the tropics exposes them to pathogens and when infected, they
readily become reservoirs for or carriers of these infectious organisms (3).
Also, people affected with tropical infections often already have a general immunoincompetence (often caused by malnutrition or other diseases) that
reduces the effectiveness of their response to otherwise mild infections.
Especially, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic is causing
a large spectrum of opportunistic infections with devastating effects parti-
cularly in these regions of the world (4). Furthermore, many of the particu-
lar tropical parasitic infections induce inadequate immunity and as a matter
of fact the scientific community has invested much less time and effort toward the understanding and controlling of these diseases. Ultimately,
the adverse socio-economic conditions of the underdeveloped countries
impede attempts to eradicate or control these tropical diseases.
