Resumo

RIVERON CORTEGUERA, Raúl L.. Enfermedades emergentes y reemergentes: un reto al siglo XXI. Rev Cubana Pediatr [online]. 2002, vol.74, n.1, pp. 7-22. ISSN 1561-3119.

An updating is made on the emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases because of their importance worldwide in the present century. The importance of such diseases for medical students in Cuba is also stated since this subject should be taught in the first years of medical studies when the students begin their practice in the clinical area. In this way, they will acquire the necessary knowledge that will enable them to make a suspicion diagnosis when they carry out their professional work both in Cuba and any other part of the world. These diseases are defined along with their chronological occurrence either by the discovery of the causative agents (bacteria, virus or parasites) or the diseases caused. Similarly, the possible causes of their emergence and reemergence are described, some of them are: environmental changes, agricultural development, population changes, trade and international travelling, technology and industry, microbial adaptation and its changes, and failure in public health measures. A brief account of the impact of these diseases in our America and Cuba is presented.

Palavras-chave : COMMUNICABLE DISEASES [epidemiology]; PROGRAMS OF STUDY; STUDENTS, MEDICAL; RISK FACTORS; LATIN AMERICA.