Course in Tropical Medicine at the Prince of Asturias Hospital.

Spain, 2010-November Hospital Universitario Prince of Asturias, in Alcalá de Henares, hosted last week a new edition of the course Tropical Medicine and international health, to update knowledge on tropical diseases and international health with a multidisciplinary approach, it was directed to doctors, nurses and health care staff concerned in such diseases.

This course, which celebrates this year its eighth edition, was directed to the health personnel interested in diseases of the traveler and the immigrant or health cooperation in low-income countries. Migratory movements and the rise of international travel have increased the imported infections, as well as those that can get passengers during their journeys.

Within normal preparations for an international trip to risk areas must always be included basic precautions on hygiene, water consumption, bites of insects or contact with animals. In addition, travellers must remember that certain diseases are endemic in countries of Latin America or Africa and require a prior vaccination. “

We are very pleased with the reception that has this course between health professionals, because it helps to cover a part of the formative vacuum in this area of knowledge in the current of the majority of the Spanish universities teaching curricula and programs of rotation of the residents”explains Dr. Juan Cuadros, microbiology and Parasitology University Hospital service Prince of Asturias and coordinator of this course with Dr. Gerardo red, from the Servicio de Medicina Interna.

On the other hand, continues Juan Cuadros, “there is a growing demand for information in this field in the 3 area because nearly 20% of the population is immigrant and we practice one medicine global and well known endemic diseases in the countries of origin of the patients.” For example, almost all of the more than 30 cases of malaria this year we have served belong to the Group of African immigrants who visit relatives and friends in countries such as Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Senegal and not perform prophylactic ”.

Between the presentations of this course highlighted experiences in international cooperation as health aid after the earthquake in Haiti, the importance of the work of sanitation for the access to drinking water or the vector control of Chagas disease through the use of a painting with repellent of the vinchuca, the Bedbug that transmits the disease. In addition, there were clinical cases of diseases imported into immigrants, diseases transmitted by water and treatment of diseases such as malaria and leprosy.

Among the teachers of the course Tropical Medicine and international health include optional health centres in the community of Madrid, as hospitals Prince of Asturias, Carlos III, Hospital Ramon and Cajal, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, as well as members of various health agencies and cooperation. The course was the academic accreditation of the Laín Entralgo Agency and the patronage of the Foundation for the biomedical research of the Prince University Hospital of Asturias.