Patterns of illness and injury on Antarctic research cruises, 2004-2019: a descriptive analysis.
J Travel Med
; 27(6)2020 09 26.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1109272
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Before the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, cruise travel had experienced exponential growth in the preceding decade. Travel medicine practitioners were increasingly called upon to provide pre-cruise travel advice and medical clearance. Demand for these services will return at some time in the future.METHODS:
The clinical conditions seen in those presenting for care on six small-vessel scientific cruises to Antarctica were analysed.RESULTS:
Personnel presented on 196 occasions resulting in 257 consultations (when initial plus all follow-up consultations were included). Personnel presented with a clinical condition at a rate of 17.9 per 1000 person-days at sea. The total consultation rate was 23.5 per 1000 person-days at sea. Injury accounted for 24% of all presentations at a rate of 4.3 per 1000 person-days at sea. Dermatological, soft tissue and musculoskeletal, general malaise and motion sickness were the four most common presentations.CONCLUSIONS:
Pre-cruise advice for travellers planning small-vessel cruises to polar regions needs to include skin care, prevention and management of sea sickness and how to reduce the risk of injury. Those providing medical care on such cruises should be prepared to manage a wide range of clinical presentations.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Referral and Consultation
/
Ships
/
Travel Medicine
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal subject:
Communicable Diseases
/
Public Health
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
JTM
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