Climate change and its impact on environmental health: a narrative review of tropical countries

Abstract

This narrative review evaluates the impacts of climate change, referring to the long-term shifting of temperature that could have wide-ranging impacts on societies across the globe. Moreover, changes in climatic factors could induce changes in environmental factors and/or the related health status in several ways, especially in tropical countries where both infectious and noninfectious diseases are prevalent. This review explores the relationships between diseases in tropical regions and climate change. An examination of the overall impacts of environmental factors in these countries highlights changes in health status and disease patterns related to food-borne and water-borne diseases, vector-borne diseases and remarkable noncommunicable diseases. Adaptation and mitigation measures, such as bolstering health systems and disease surveillance, are needed to address these findings. Resilience and public awareness are key components of effective policies, and cross-sector cooperation and sustainable financial practices are essential for improving health outcomes and combating diseases connected to climate change. (Figure presented.)