Tropical and travel medicine is concerned with all the diseases that are to be found in the tropics and that we are liable to catch if we, say, travel to those countries, such as malaria, hepatitis, typhoid, and amoebic and other parasitic diseases.
The specialist in tropical medicine informs and advises travellers about all the precautions they should take before leaving (e.g. immunisations) and when they get to their destination. He also examines travellers or immigrants if there is a suspicion they may have caught something in the tropics.
The specialist in tropical medicine knows which diseases are prevalent in which countries. He can carry out the appropriate immunisations and tests, and treat a disease if one is diagnosed. Furthermore he does all that he can to ensure no-one else catches the disease.