Injuries and Illnesses of Vietnam War POWs. 2. Army POWs

Abstract

Seventy-seven Army POWs were repatriated in Feb - March, 1973, spending up to eight years in South and North Vietnam prisons (mean duration of captivity = 49.3 months). There were 28 officers (mean age at time of capture = 27.6 years) and 49 enlisted men (mean age = 23.0 years). This report documents the injuries and illnesses diagnosed at repatriation. Although the repatriated POWs (RPWs) were generally healthier than had been expected they had an average of 14.9 diagnoses, comprising 386 separate diagnostic entities. The six most prevalent diagnoses were: Helminthiases (77% of the RPWs), Avitaminoses and Other Nutritional Deficiencies (55%), Hearing Impairment (40%), Dermatophytosis (39%), Peripheral Nerve Injury (39%), and Malaria 34%). All diagnoses occurring in at least five percent of the RPWs are reported. In addition, less frequently occurring, but clinically significant diagnoses are discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1975
Accession Number
ADA045965

Entities

People

  • Milton Richlin
  • S. W. Berg

Organizations

  • Naval Health Research Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Deficiencies
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Health Services
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Medicine
  • Nutrition Disorders
  • Peripheral Nervous System
  • Prisoners Of War
  • Signs And Symptoms
  • Vietnam
  • Wounds And Injuries

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Criminal Law
  • Gulf War Illness and Chronic Multisymptom Illness in Veterans.