Abstract

Background: The conditions encountered during military service in Afghanistan create number of different medical problems, resulting in interruptions in the performance of soldiers and even evacuation to the home country. A search of the literature yielded no comprehensive studies of medical problems of any single national contingent now serving in Afghanistan. A review of medical reports was made of the Polish Military Contingent in Operation Enduring Freedom from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011. Due to various reasons, 9.1% to 22.8% of all deployed Polish soldiers were unable to continue active duty. Acute respiratory infections and infectious and non-infectious gastrointestinal disorders are the main causes of temporary inability to serve. An important problem in the Polish soldiers is also dental health. Predicting the combat capability of Polish forces in Afghanistan and planning of its medical security requires the inclusion of the seasonality factor. Material/Method: This study is a review of medical records of the Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan, covering the period from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011, from records and data maintained by the Armed Forces Operational Command. (changes: IX and X). All cases were soldiers unable to continue active military duty due to health reasons. Results: The analysis shows that among the soldiers of PKW there occurred varied medical events, which directly or through further complications were the cause of temporary inability to serve and which sometimes were the ultimate cause of an evacuation to the home country. Conclusions: Acute respiratory infections and infectious and non-infectious gastrointestinal disorders were the main cause of temporary inability to serve.

Keywords: Military Personnel - statistics & numerical data, Military Medicine - statistics & numerical data, Incidence, Disease, Afghanistan, Poland - epidemiology