The Effects of Port Visits on Infective and Parasitic Diseases in U.S. Navy Enlisted Personnel
Abstract
Approximately nineteen percent of the enlisted crew from the ships in the Pacific fleet and ten percent of the crew from the ships in the Atlantic fleet experienced at least one health problem as a result of infective and parasitic diseases during the six month deployment. Fungal, gonorrhea, and the diarrheal illnesses accounted for the majority of these cases. Fungal infections known collectively as the dermatophytes accounted for the highest percentage of visits for both the ships from the Atlantic (59.5%) and Pacific (53.6%) fleets. Together, dematophytosis and gonococcal infections accounted for approximately 80% of the infective and parasitic outpatient visits reported from the ships in the Pacific fleet, while dermatophytosis and diarrheal diseases accounted for 70% of those outpatient visits reported from the ships in the Atlantic fleet. One particular port in Southeast Asia appeared to be responsible for nearly all the gonorrhea and diarrheal cases that were reported from Pacific region. A number of ships from the Atlantic fleet reported a few cases of STD's and diarrheal diseases after visiting ports in the Mediterranean, but no particular pattern or high risk port was apparent in contrast to the Pacific region.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA245582
Entities
People
- Eddie Shaw
- Larry A. Hermansen
- Martin R. White
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center