Sickness profile among Polish troops deployed to Afghanistan in the years 2003–2005

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. Material and 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-east-ern 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 respira-tory 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 per-sons). 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