Each country is characterized by its special issues that are widespread on its territory. The reasons for this may be the social and economic situation, as well as the climate of the place. Following what diseases are common in a particular region, medical personnel should adjust their practice. The purpose of this essay is to identify a common condition in Miami, Florida, and to analyze its effect on various populations.
Miami stands out among other cities, primarily by its environment. This city is located on the southeastern tip of Florida and has a tropical monsoon climate. This weather leaves its mark on the spread of various infections since it is much easier for bacteria and viruses to reproduce in a warm and humid tropical environment (“Tropical infection diseases,” n.d.). The spread of tuberculosis, one of the worst mass infections, deserves special attention. The propagation of tuberculosis is especially dangerous in Miami because, in a humid climate, bacteria can remain active throughout the year. That is why it is essential to pay attention to the prevention and treatment of this disease in this city.
Due to the peculiarities of Miami’s history and location, the city has rather unusual demography. The majority of the population, 75 percent, are white people; however, the vast majority of all Miami residents, namely 70 percent, are Hispanic or Latino (“Summary data,” n.d.). Thus, when working in Miami, medical personnel have to deal with a considerable number of people for whom English is not their native language. Therefore, in this article, Hispanic and English-speaking people are represented as two compared population groups. These people are very similar in many ways; for example, all of them mostly have white skin. However, one important factor should be taken into account, namely, cultural and social differences. It is these varieties that can serve as an additional source of development of this disease.
Most of the Hispanic people in Miami came from Cuba. Accordingly, having arrived in the city, they are in a more vulnerable economic situation than the residents. As practice shows, tuberculosis is spreading most often and fastest among developing countries, or, as in this case, impoverished communities. Thus, Cubans who come to the city are in danger, because poor living conditions can also serve as a source of tuberculosis. Poverty and homelessness are an influential factor contributing to the development of the disease, and Florida is in second place in the United States by this circumstance (Cherng et al., 2018). Non-Hispanic people, in this case, are much less susceptible to this factor, therefore, are in less danger. It is also worth noting the world-famous cultural feature of Cuba, namely its Cuban cigars. The prevalence of smoking among Cubans can also actively contribute to the development of pulmonary diseases, including tuberculosis.
Following the features noted above, medical personnel needs to make certain adjustments to meet the specific requirements of various groups of society. Since English is not native to a vast number of Miami residents, it is useful to have the basics of the Spanish language to communicate with patients and provide qualified assistance to them successfully. Given the prevalence of Hispanic people in the city, this factor will only play a benefit in practice. Secondly, it is necessary to pay special attention to the medical history of patients and to focus on possible smoking. It is also essential to pay attention to the social environment in which the patient lives since it can be an additional source of the disease.
Thus, tuberculosis is one of the most common tropical infectious diseases since the tropical climate of Miami is an ideal environment for the spread of bacteria. Following this, it is necessary to pay special attention to all social groups of the city. In particular, medical personnel must take special care about Hispanic patients, as they may be at risk due to their origin, cultural background, and social status.
References
Cherng, S. T., Shrestha, S., Reynolds, S., Hill, A. N., Marks, S. M., Kelly, J., & Dowdy, D. W. (2018). Tuberculosis incidence among populations at high risk in California, Florida, New York, and Texas, 2011–2015. American Journal of Public Health, 108(S4), S311-S314.
Summary Data for county: Miami-Dade. (n.d.). Miami-Dade Matters. Web.
Tropical infection diseases. (n.d.). University of Miami Health System. Web.