title: Reasons for medical consultation among members of the Indian Scientific Expeditions to Antarctica.
abstract: The article attempts to analyze the disease burden in a healthy, pre-screened population subjected to prolonged residence in the hostile environment of Antarctica. This retrospective epidemiological study was conducted utilizing data from medical consultation room on board the Indian Antarctic expedition vessels and at Indian Antarctic station, Maitri from seven Indian Scientific Expeditions to Antarctica (ISEA). The study group (n=327) consisted of 325 men and two women. The total number of medical room consultations was 1989. Maximum consultations were for injuries (27.25%); 14.68% were musculoskeletal and 10.31% were bruises and lacerations. Disturbances of gastrointestinal tract (19.66%) were the second most common disorders. Psychological disturbances accounted for 2.66% consultations. Cold injuries constituted 2.01% consultations and photophthalmia accounted for 1.06% consultations.
authors: National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa, India. abhijeetbhatia77@gmail.com
authors: Abhijeet
authors: A
authors: Bhatia
authors: Pradip
authors: P
authors: Malhotra
authors: Ashok Kumar
authors: AK
authors: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D000864:Antarctic Regions / Q000453:epidemiology; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005101:Expeditions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006298:Health Services Administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: India; Maitri; Polar health