Healthcare for patients living in the tropics with rheumatic diseases is "much neglected", warn experts.
Dr Ade Adebajo of Sheffield University, UK, and colleagues believe there is a need for these diseases to be recognised and addressed by all healthcare workers in the developing world.
In the journal Rheumatology, they write: "It is also essential for rheumatologists in the West to be aware of the conditions and to avoid misdiagnosis and mismanagement of patients from the tropics who have rheumatological problems."
Rheumatology research and care in the developed world "stands in stark contrast with what is available to the very large populations in the tropical regions of Africa, South America and Asia", they write.
These patients "have little or no access to the particular skills and benefits which a rheumatologist brings, including the diagnosis and management of a wide range of painful and disabling locomotor conditions".
In many areas, there is a lack of trained individuals who might establish a basic service, pass on skills, lobby for resources, educate the public and provide rehabilitation care.
In recognition of this global problem, the European League of Associations for Rheumatology has recently included tropical arthritis as a module in its postgraduate rheumatology course.
"This is just a start," say Dr Adebajo and colleagues. "Greater collaborative effort is required worldwide to improve both public and health professional education of these predominantly tropical, impoverished conditions.
"It is therefore highly encouraging that several international bodies are committed to support research targeted at solving some of these issues. Tropical rheumatology is now truly a global issue."
Adebajo, A., McGill, P. and Tikly, M. Tropical rheumatology – a global issue. Rheumatology, Vol. 48, June 2009, pp. 599-601.
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