Patterns of Illness and Injury on Antarctic Research Cruises, 2004-2019: a Descriptive Analysis

Overview

Journal J Travel Med

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialties Infectious Diseases
Public Health

Date 2020 Jul 14

PMID 32657340

Citations 1

Authors

Jenny T Visser

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

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.

Citing Articles

Probiotics maintain the gut microbiome homeostasis during Indian Antarctic expedition by ship.

Srivastava A, Rohil V, Bhushan B, Rao Eslavath M, Gupta H, Chanda S Sci Rep. 2021; 11(1):18793.

PMID: 34552104 PMC: 8458292. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97890-4.

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