title: Morbidity pattern of the 27th Indian Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate morbidity prototype of 27th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (ISEA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six team members of 27th ISEA wintered over at the Indian Antarctic Station, Maitri, from February 2008 to January 2009. The morbidity pattern was sourced from the medical records. Preexisting illnesses were also considered in this analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The team consisted of men between 27 and 59 years of age (mean age, 43 years). Nine team members had preexisting illnesses. A total of 93 illness incidents were recorded during the stay in Antarctica. Most of these (27) were musculoskeletal injuries, bruises, and lacerations. Thirty-two (34%) incidents of illness were noted under the purview of medicine; 26 (28%), surgery; 15 (16%), orthopedics; 9 (10%), otorhinolaryngology; 8 (9%), ophthalmology; 2 (2%), dentistry; and 3 (3%), psychiatry. Oral ulcers were noted in 8 (8%) participants primarily during early wintering.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Injuries continue to be the most common cause of morbidity in Antarctica. Nutritional deficiencies and cold-related injuries are relatively less common.
authors: National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa, India. abhijeetbhatia77@gmail.com
authors: Abhijeet
authors: A
authors: Bhatia
authors: Ranabir
authors: R
authors: Pal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000864:Antarctic Regions / Q000453:epidemiology; D005101:Expeditions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D012108:Research Personnel; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*