Tropical and Infectious Diseases

Tropical Parasitic Diseases

Tropical Parasitic Diseases include Cysticercosis, echinococcosis, lymphatic filariasis, and sthistosomiasis among many others. Cysticercosis is characterized by tissue infection and caused by tapeworm. People infected with it have few or no symptoms for months but in some cases solid lumps of about 1-2 cms may develop under the skin, which gradually become painful and swollen.  Echinococcosis is is also caused by tapeworm and are of 2 types- cystic echinococcosis and alveolar echinococcosis. The disease often starts without symptoms lasts for several months to years .The symptoms and signs that occur depend on the cyst's location and size in the body. Sthistosomiasis is commonly known as snail fever which is caused by parasitic flat worms, called sthistosomes. In this case the urinary tracks or intestines are infected. The symptoms include abdominal pain, bloody stool and blood in the urine and diarrhea; followed by kidney failure, bladder cancer and liver damage in the later stages. Lymphatic filariasis affects lymaphatic systems and leads to the enlargement of lymph nodes.