title: Sickness profile among Polish troops deployed to Afghanistan in the years 2003-2005.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article presents the results of individual research concerning the sickness profile in the group of soldiers of the Polish Military Contingent (PMC) deployed to Afghanistan within the international stabilization forces in the years 2003-2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis was based on medical records of 400 Polish troops treated ambulatorily from November 2003 to October 2005 in the PMC out-patients clinic providing medical support in the operation Enduring Freedom in Bagram Air Base (north-eastern Afghanistan). All initial visits (n = 1001) were included in statistical analysis. Incidence rates of diseases and injuries were calculated per 100 persons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main reasons for ambulant treatment in the group of Polish soldiers were respiratory system diseases (61.8 cases/100 persons), skin diseases (55.0 cases/100 persons), non- -battle injuries (39.8 cases/100 persons), and digestive system diseases (32.8 cases/100 persons).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health problems occurring among troops of the Polish Military Contingent were closely related to the effects of environmental factors (extreme range of temperature within 24- -hours and throughout the year, unsatisfactory sanitary conditions), and sports accidents in the mission area.
authors.affiliation: Military Institute of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Tropical Medicine, Gdynia, Poland. kktropmed@wp.pl
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Korzeniewski
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brzozowski
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008499:Medical Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology