title: Prospective study of respiratory infections at the U.S. Naval Academy.
abstract: Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy have recently suffered epidemics of upper respiratory tract infections. Seeking to determine cause, in June 1998 we enrolled 1,243 (99.5%) of 1,249 new midshipmen (plebes) and followed them during their first 11 months of training. Eighty-five plebes sought medical attention for acute respiratory disease. Using culture, serologic studies, and polymerase chain reaction, considerable evidence for respiratory pathogen infection was found among the ill subjects: Chlamydia pneumoniae in 41 (52.6%), Mycoplasma pneumoniae in 19 (25.3%), influenza in 11 (14.2%), Streptococcus pneumoniae in 6 (7.3%), and adenovirus in 1 (1.2%). Additionally, 873 (81%) the 1,077 plebes who completed an end-of-year questionnaire complained of having one or more respiratory symptoms (> 12 hours) during their first year of school. Of these, 132 (15%) reported that the symptoms significantly affected their performance. Study results suggest that respiratory infections were frequent, had a significant adverse impact on training, and were often attributable to bacterial pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Defense Center for Deployment Health Research, Naval Health Research Center, P.O. Box 85122, San Diego, CA 92186-5122, USA. gray@nhrc.navy.mil
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Gackstetter
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McKeehan
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Aldridge
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Hudspeth
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Malasig
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: W Z
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: McBride
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008889:Military Personnel; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires