ABSTRACT
Tropical climate (high temperature and humidity), but also social, econom-
ical, and cultural underdevelopment, expose people to common respiratory pathogens, and provide an ideal environment for some microorganisms,
vectors, and intermediate hosts. Tropical pneumonia is defined in the
present chapter as the presence of clues of parenchymal lung infection in
patients who live or have traveled to, or lived in tropical zones. Due to inter-
national travels, physicians could face today in their daily practice, more
often than in the past, common tropical pneumonias. History, physical
exam, and complementary workout are precious tools for diagnosis that
should be considered together with the geographical setting and the patient’s lifestyle. Every year, millions of people travel abroad, exposing
themselves to various diseases, they may return ill or become ill soon after-
wards. Physicians should establish whether the disease is associated with
the trip. Assessment should include geography and epidemiology.
