Infectious Tropical Diseases That Acutely Affect the Kidneys: What Physicians and Health Care Workers in Nonendemic Countries Should Know.

The tropics, a large and heavily inhabited area, are characterized by deep contrasts in sociopolitical, economic, and social development, which are reflected in the epidemiology of diseases. Common noncommunicable chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, coexist with acute infectious tropical diseases. Global warming, immigration, tourism, and commercial travel have helped spread tropical diseases to temperate zones by facilitating the spread of vectors, the infection of animal reservoirs, and the introduction of contaminated individuals into nonendemic areas. Infectious tropical diseases are currently a significant global public health concern worldwide. Their timely diagnosis and adequate treatment might be a considerable challenge to health workers from nontropical areas because most share very similar initial clinical presentations. It is essential that health care teams worldwide can recognize and treat a broad spectrum of tropical diseases. Several of these infectious tropical diseases can affect the kidneys, acutely or chronically. In this review, we explore and discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, and clinical aspects of the most relevant infectious tropical diseases that can be associated with acute kidney injury. Such diseases include, but are not limited to, dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, malaria, leptospirosis, and scrub typhus.