Hematologic Changes Associated with Specific Infections in the Tropics

Certain tropical infections are present throughout much of Africa and Asia and can lead to blood-related disorders, such as anemia. Each of these disorders has unique and complex health implications; for example, decreased production of red blood cells may occur as a defensive reaction to infection. In this publication, the characteristics of a number of infections are discussed, including malaria, hookworm, and HIV. Malaria is considered the most important parasitic infection because of its prevalence and high likelihood of resulting in anemia.