Tropical diseases: A public health problem with impact on nephrology

Abstract

The tropics are an area which cover the equator area and nearly half of the world population. Infectious and non-infectious etiologies such as snakebite toxins, plant toxins, and chemical toxins commonly contribute toward acute kidney injury (AKI) in tropical areas. However, these etiologies are still underreported. To better understand the impact of public health risk dimensions on tropical renal diseases, we can divide the risk dimensions into five major categories: environmental factor, socioeconomic factor, exposure factor, process of care factor, and inherent factor. Fortunately, most of the risk dimensions except inherent factor can be modified. “One Health” approach is one of the key approaches to improve the outcome of tropical infectious diseases (i.e., such as leptospirosis, malaria, dengue) causing acute kidney injury. Moreover, risk assessments and early recognition by creating specific diseases risk score such as THAI LEPTO score, and using new technologies such as electronic alert system and telemedicine, could be one of the strategies to improve tropical renal diseases outcome.