Korte R
Deutsche Tropenmedizinische Gesellschaft, Eschborn.
Schweiz Med Wochenschr. 1997 Sep 27;127(39):1609-12.
The author provides a brief history of tropical medicine and describes how it has evolved since its creation at the end of the 19th century. The author proposes a working definition of tropical diseases, including their geographical distribution and their socioeconomic conditions prevailing in these regions. Currently tropical medicine is in danger of fragmenting into a number of subspecialties or being absorbed into the subspecialties of other medical sectors. The broad interdisciplinary nature of tropical medicine may be its weakness, but also its particular strength. The effective interplay between four major areas of work makes it different from other specialties. These are biomedical sciences, medical care, epidemiology and the social sciences. This intersectoral approach should also lead to stronger synergisms between scientists in Europe and institutions in the South.
作者介绍了热带医学的简史，并描述了自19世纪末创立以来它是如何发展的。作者提出了热带疾病的实用定义，包括其地理分布以及这些地区普遍存在的社会经济状况。目前，热带医学面临着分裂成多个亚专业或被其他医学领域的亚专业所吸收的危险。热带医学广泛的跨学科性质可能是其弱点，但也是其独特优势。四个主要工作领域之间的有效互动使其有别于其他专业。这四个领域是生物医学科学、医疗保健、流行病学和社会科学。这种跨部门方法还应促使欧洲的科学家与南方的机构之间产生更强的协同作用。
